Nordstrom Inc. luxury retailer will launch its Designer Collections website in an effort to provide a unique online shopping experience for its customers, on February 6, 2006. The site is illustrated by artist Ruben Toledo and uses Flash technology along with illustrations, animation and fashion photography.

The ten boutiques featured on the site will be Giorgio Armani, Blumarine, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Missoni, Ralph Lauren and Roberto Cavalli. Each shop has its own branded designer concept -- Dolce and Gabbanas shop is an Italian pallazo, Donna Karans is a New York brownstone, while Marc Jacobs has the ivy-covered façade of his Los Angeles storefront. The site will feature ready-to-wear shoes and accessories collections.

"It was important to us to provide our designer customers with a dynamic online shopping experience," said Sue Patneaude, executive vice-president of designer apparel. "We wanted to inspire our customer to have a little fun and to deliver a personalized customer service experience online -- just like we do in our stores,” added Patneaude.