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Tag: Shanghai

  • Set Sail for Style: Louis Vuitton Unveils Cruise Ship-Inspired Store in Shanghai

    Set Sail for Style: Louis Vuitton Unveils Cruise Ship-Inspired Store in Shanghai

    Louis Vuitton’s latest venture into retail has set sail in the heart of Shanghai with a striking cruise ship-themed concept store that is stirring excitement among both shoppers and social media enthusiasts. With its whimsical design, the three-story venue has quickly established itself as a go-to hotspot for those looking to capture the perfect Instagram moment.

    An Immersive Shopping Experience

    This innovative store offers more than just a place to browse and buy. It incorporates an expansive sales area, a chic café, and curated exhibits that delve into the rich culture and history of Louis Vuitton. It’s a retail experience that invites customers not only to shop but to engage with the brand in a fun and educational way—like taking a cinematic journey without ever leaving the building!

    A Blend of Retail and Art

    As guests wander through the store, they encounter a stunning array of merchandise, art installations, and interactive displays that celebrate the brand’s legacy. This is more than just retail therapy; it’s a celebration of the craftsmanship and artistry that define the Louis Vuitton name. The store cleverly marries the allure of luxury fashion with an engaging narrative experience, captivating the interests of a diverse clientele.

    Strategic Location Fuels Popularity

    Situated in a bustling area of Shanghai, the store is perfectly positioned to attract both tourists and locals, making it a prime destination on the city’s retail map. The balance of luxury and accessibility is evident as chatter fills the café and excited voices exclaim over creatively designed displays. It appears that luxury shopping has found a new rhythm that resonates with the modern consumer’s desire for memorable experiences.

    Questions & Answers

    What makes the Louis Vuitton store unique compared to traditional retail locations?
    The Louis Vuitton store in Shanghai stands out with its cruise ship theme and immersive experience, blending retail with art and education about the brand’s heritage.

    How does the store enhance customer engagement beyond shopping?
    The store features exhibits showcasing Louis Vuitton’s culture, interactive displays, and a café, transforming the shopping experience into a multi-faceted engagement with the brand.

    Why is the location significant for the store’s success?
    Located in a bustling part of Shanghai, the store attracts both tourists and locals, creating a vibrant atmosphere that drives foot traffic and enhances its appeal as a social hotspot.

  • Authentic Brands Group Unveils New APAC Headquarters in Vibrant Shanghai

    Authentic Brands Group Unveils New APAC Headquarters in Vibrant Shanghai

    Authentic Brands Group has made a major move in its global expansion strategy by opening its Asia-Pacific (APAC) headquarters in the vibrant city of Shanghai. This new development, covering nearly 2,000 square meters, is not just an office—it’s a hub of creativity and innovation.

    Bringing Brands to Life

    The Shanghai office boasts five immersive showrooms, a stylish Style Studio, an executive lounge, and specialized spaces designed for the diverse teams focusing on brand management, business development, PR, marketing, and entertainment. This environment is set to inspire collaboration and take Authentic’s regional initiatives to new heights.

    Top brass from the company, including CEO Jamie Salter and President Matt Maddox, were present for the launch, alongside APAC President Wesley Chu, EVP Josh Perlman, and global brand partner David Beckham. Their attendance highlights the importance of this new hub in cementing Authentic’s presence in the Asian market.

    A Global Vision, Local Focus

    The Shanghai office is strategically positioned to function as a regional center for brand management, licensing, and marketing throughout Greater China and the broader APAC region. This bold move follows the establishment of Authentic’s EMEA headquarters set to open in 2024, emphasizing the company’s commitment to localizing operations in critical markets.

    Founded in 2010, Authentic Brands Group has swiftly risen to prominence. The company manages a portfolio of over 50 lifestyle, sports, and entertainment brands, generating approximately USD 32 billion in annual global retail sales. Its impressive lineup features global superstars like David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal, and a diverse array of brands including Reebok, Aéropostale, Quiksilver, Barneys New York, and Sports Illustrated.

    As they celebrate this milestone, one can only wonder what other surprises Authentic has in store for the bustling APAC market.

    Questions & Answers

    **What is the size of the new Shanghai office?**
    The Shanghai office spans nearly 2,000 square meters.

    Who were some key figures present at the office launch?
    Notable attendees included CEO Jamie Salter, President Matt Maddox, APAC President Wesley Chu, EVP Josh Perlman, and brand partner David Beckham.

    What does Authentic Brands Group aim to achieve with this new headquarters?
    The headquarters will serve as a regional hub, enhancing brand management, licensing, and business development in Greater China and the wider APAC region.

  • Uniqlo Unveils Plan For Flagship Store In Shanghai: An Eco-friendly Fusion Of Innovation And Elegance

    Uniqlo Unveils Plan For Flagship Store In Shanghai: An Eco-friendly Fusion Of Innovation And Elegance

    In an exciting turn of events, Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo has unveiled plans for a brand-new store opening in the bustling heart of Shanghai, slated for early 2024. The store, strategically located in the iconic Jing’an district, aims to cater to the tastes of both local and international shoppers, promising a fresh blend of fashion innovation and classic elegance.

    Expanding Horizons

    Uniqlo’s parent company, Fast Retailing, is setting its sights on expanding its footprint in Asia’s dynamic retail landscape. The opening in Shanghai reflects the brand’s commitment to tapping into the vibrant lifestyle of one of China’s largest metropolises. This move comes on the heels of a surge in demand from consumers seeking quality, on-trend apparel that resonates with their daily lives.

    Additionally, the Shanghai store will showcase Uniqlo’s newest technology in retail design, featuring interactive displays and sustainable materials that align with modern consumer expectations. This new flagship store is not only about selling clothes; it’s about creating an immersive shopping experience.

    Eco-Friendly Endeavors

    With sustainability becoming a core value for consumers, Uniqlo is taking substantial steps towards eco-friendliness. The Shanghai site is set to incorporate energy-efficient systems and environmentally conscious practices. From recycled packaging to sustainable sourcing of materials, the brand is echoing its commitment to reducing its environmental impact while delivering stylish and functional apparel.

    Emphasizing local culture and community engagement, Uniqlo is also on the lookout for collaborations with local artists and designers to feature unique collections that resonate with the spirit of Shanghai. Shoppers can expect a delightful fusion of global trends infused with local flair, providing an ever-refreshing experience.

    A Fashionable Future

    As Uniqlo continues to innovate, the upcoming Shanghai store represents not just a new location, but a booming future for retail in the region. With a playful approach to fashion and a commitment to sustainability, Uniqlo aims to enchant both long-time customers and new visitors alike. Who knows, maybe this will be the place where consumers not only find their next outfit but also their fashion muse.

    Questions & Answers

    What will the new Uniqlo store in Shanghai feature?
    The new Shanghai store will showcase innovative retail design, interactive displays, and sustainable materials aimed at enhancing the shopping experience.

    When is the grand opening of the Shanghai store?
    The much-anticipated store is set to open its doors in early 2024, drawing both locals and tourists alike.

    How is Uniqlo addressing sustainability?
    Uniqlo is committing to eco-friendly practices, such as energy-efficient systems, recycled packaging, and sustainable sourcing methods to minimize its environmental impact.

  • Apple opens second MixC store in Shenzhen, China

    Apple opens second MixC store in Shenzhen, China

    Apple will open its second MixC store in Shenzhen, China, as part of its strategy to strengthen its local footprint.

    Apple said the new store has a Padang Light stone floor and a timber veneer-clad wall sourced responsibly and locally in China, maximizing visibility within the store.

    The store will feature the latest Apple products and accessories and an Apple Pickup station that combines the online and in-person purchasing experiences for Chinese customers. Apple said the dedicated area allows customers to order online and conveniently pick up their devices in-store.

    “At Apple, we’re constantly innovating to deliver the best possible experience for our customers, and our incredible team members in Shenzhen can’t wait to welcome them when doors open,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior VP of Retail.

    The addition of Apple MixC Shenzhen marks the 55th Apple Store location in the area and the fourth in China’s Guangdong province. Apple has welcomed 22 million visitors to Shenzhen since Apple Holiday Plaza Shenzhen, the city’s first Apple Store, opened its doors in 2012.

    The new store employs approximately 150 trained retail team members who speak ten languages, including Chinese, Cantonese, English, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and sign language.

    After Europe and the United States, China is Apple’s third most important market. According to Bloomberg, Apple gained its most quarterly market share in China earlier this year, outpacing Covid outages and a global economic downturn.

    Apple disclosed plans to open its first company-run retail presence in Mumbai, India’s financial powerhouse, at the beginning of this month.

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  • Louis Vuitton picks Shanghai for first furniture and homewares store

    Louis Vuitton picks Shanghai for first furniture and homewares store

    Louis Vuitton on Friday announced plans to open a dedicated furniture and homewares store in Shanghai, a world first for the French luxury brand as it aims to expand further into lifestyle offerings to affluent Chinese clients.

    The appointment-only showroom, which will open on Monday, is located in a century-old three-storey mansion situated just behind Nanjing Road, the city’s premier upscale shopping strip.

    Louis Vuitton, part of LVMH, said in a statement the showroom will be trialed for several months as a pop-up and if successful will then become a permanent feature.

    While no price tags were on show at the store during a media preview, a Louis Vuitton employee said a brightly hued hanging cocoon chair designed by the Campana brothers is priced at more than 700,000 yuan ($97,860) and a small lamp resembling a glass milk bottle encased in leather straps cost 10,500 yuan.

    A smaller side building is dedicated to showing designs by Frank Chou, the first mainland Chinese designer tapped by Louis Vuitton to collaborate on the Objet Nomades collection, as the furniture and homewares ranges is known.

    Finding new avenues for growth, particularly among wealthy consumers, is becoming increasingly important for luxury brands in China as COVID-19 curbs, a property market decline, and widespread economic uncertainty pressure luxury spending.

    Louis Vuitton dipped its toes into a more lifestyle-oriented offering in China last month when it opened a store in the southwestern city of Chengdu that included an exhibition space and restaurant.

    “LMVH is striving to … reposition itself as a contemporary luxury brand by tapping new avenues that resonate with dynamic Chinese Millennials and Gen Z consumers,” said GlobalData consumer analyst Bobby Verghese, whose firm reckons sales in China’s home sector will grow to $782 billion by 2026.

    Verghese sees homewares as a good bet for Louis Vuitton, especially in China.

    “Unlike their predecessors who prioritized privacy, the Gen Y digital immigrants and Gen Z digital natives are not averse to flaunting their lifestyles on social media,” Verghese said. “LMVH aims to gain an early-bird advantage in this emerging space.”

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  • World’s first Nike Style store opens in Seoul

    World’s first Nike Style store opens in Seoul

    Nike has introduced its latest retail concept, Nike Style, with the first store opened in South Korea, to be followed by more across multiple international markets.

    The Nike Style concept store is located in the bustling Hongdae neighbourhood, which is known for its art and fashion culture. Gender-agnostic zones are featured throughout the store for fleece, tops, footwear, accessories, and other style-led collections. The new retail concept is expected to “expand the definition of sport” that blurs the line between physical and digital.

    The store houses a content studio with customisable backdrops for local creatives, product experts and shoppers to create content for social media. Customers can scan QR codes for AR experiences related to product innovation and even the surrounding art installations. The store also offers Nike By You workshops and Snkrs Lounge events for its members.

    “The Hongdae neighbourhood holds a strong relationship with the sneaker and neighbourhood-retail community,” the company said in a statement. “With the Style retail concept, Nike helps broaden the aperture of sports retail culture by continuing to blend physical and digital experiences.”

    A second Nike Style store is set to open its doors in Shanghai later this year, with the concept to be expanded into other countries in the future. Nike Style is the latest Nike’s concept, following the House of Innovation, Nike Live and recently Nike Rise.

    The launch of Nike Style in Seoul follows the opening of a 24,000sqft Nike Rise store in Seoul last year, the first of its kind in South Korea.

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  • H&M closes Shanghai flagship after Covid lockdowns

    H&M closes Shanghai flagship after Covid lockdowns

    H&M has shut its flagship Shanghai store, its latest closure in China where consumer demand has slumped amid COVID-19 lockdowns and the fast-fashion retailer has borne the brunt of a backlash against companies that refuse to use Xinjiang cotton.

    Although it was open earlier this month, the three-storey building in downtown Shanghai was on Friday boarded up with its H&M signage gone.

    The world’s second-biggest fast-fashion retailer entered China in 2007 with the opening of the Shanghai flagship store and rapidly expanded. It had more than 500 stores in mainland China early last year but its website currently only lists 376, including the flagship Shanghai store.

    The company declined to comment, citing a blackout period prior to its first-half earnings report on June 29.

    Although nearly a month has passed since Shanghai lifted a strict two-month lockdown, consumers have yet to return to malls in significant numbers.

    Chinese consumers have also beat a retreat from its products after a letter in which H&M expressed concerns about allegations of forced labour in the Xinjiang region came to light in 2021.

    Other brands that publicly disavowed Xinjiang cotton such as Inditex’s, Zara, Nike and Adidas have also suffered with Chinese netizens calling for boycotts and Chinese celebrities refusing to work with them.

    But the backlash against H&M, the first foreign retailer to express concerns, has been particularly harsh. Unlike other brands, its products remain unavailable on major Chinese e-commerce sites such as Tmall and JD.com.

    UN experts and rights groups estimate over a million people, mainly Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, have been detained in recent years in a vast system of camps in China’s western Xinjiang region.

    Many former inmates have said they were subject to ideological training and abuse in the camps. China denies all accusations of abuse.

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  • Alibaba’s Freshippo struggles to meet demand during Shanghai lockdown

    Alibaba’s Freshippo struggles to meet demand during Shanghai lockdown

    Alibaba’s supermarket chain Freshippo says it is adding more couriers to meet high demand in Shanghai but this was not yet catching up with the rising needs of locked-down residents as the city battles a surge in Covid-19 cases.

    Shen Li, a vice president at Alibaba Group’s Freshippo, told reporters on Sunday that while the company’s delivery capacity had recovered to about 60-70 per cent of pre-outbreak levels as more couriers were allowed back on the roads, many difficulties remained.

    “The biggest challenge we are facing now is that the demand and numbers of orders from consumers has increased by about two to three times compared with pre-outbreak levels,” she said.

    China’s most important economic hub has locked down most of its 25 million residents for more than three weeks in an effort to stamp out the country’s largest outbreak since the virus first emerged in Wuhan in late 2019.

    After most supermarkets and stores were shut across the city, residents resorted to online buying to procure food and other essentials but have faced difficulties. Shanghai authorities have said they are trying to ease these bottlenecks but it remains a key public frustration.

    Many residents have described waking up as early as 5am to try and grab delivery slots from online grocers such as Freshippo, only to find them sold out in seconds. While Freshippo and other vendors have launched bulk-buying purchase schemes, some people have complained about the inability to reach the volumes needed to guarantee orders.

    Shen said Freshippo as of Sunday had 47 stores open for online deliveries in Shanghai and it also had set up six additional ad hoc warehouses for the city, due to issues with inter-province supply chains.

    About 5000 staff were working in these stores and its warehouses while a further 1000 were working online from home, she added.

  • Tesla, VW, SAIC Look To Recommence Shanghai Operations

    Tesla, VW, SAIC Look To Recommence Shanghai Operations

    Tesla VW and SAIC are among several companies that are looking to get production back up and running at their Shanghai facilities after almost three weeks of COVID-19 related shutdowns. The news comes following Beijing having drawn up a “whitelist” of companies prioritised to re-open or keep operations going in Shanghai. The list included a number of companies ranging from carmakers to semiconductor manufacturers and medical firms.

    As per Reuters, Tesla had already recalled workers to its Shanghai factory where they would be required to live on-site. The company had planned to commence production today though it has now been deferred to tomorrow citing logistical issues from a supplier. SAIC Motor meanwhile reported that it was commencing stress testing from Monday with an eye on recommencing production while VW said it was evaluating the feasibility of resuming production at its SAIC joint venture.

    However, with COVID-related closures in other cities in the country, it remains to be seen how manufacturers work around supply chain disruptions.

    Shanghai meanwhile aims to stop the spread of COVID-19 outside of quarantined areas by Wednesday with reports saying that the city had stepped up testing measures and transfer positive cases and their close contacts to isolation.

    Companies are being required to ensure ‘closed loops’ for workers being called into work while also maintaining medical supplies. Under ‘closed loops’ employers have been asked to minimise employee exposure to others while transiting to work or arranging for employees to live on their factory premises.

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  • Blue Bottle makes Mainland China debut

    Blue Bottle makes Mainland China debut

    Blue Bottle Coffee opened its first store in the Chinese mainland on Friday in Shanghai, a city boasting the highest number of coffee shops worldwide.

    Naming its Shanghai debut “Yutong Cafe”, the American coffee chain selected a historic venue by Suzhou Creek, a river that passes through the Shanghai city center, symbolizing its resonance with the local market.

    The two-storey, vintage-looking building houses a selection of classic drip coffee and its signature espresso-based drinks. It also provides snacks inspired by an iconic portfolio from its worldwide operations.

    Unique to the Shanghai store are offerings from merchandise co-created with a local illustrator to a pastry palette featuring local specialties.

    The California-headquartered coffee brand was founded in 2002. Apart from the US, it currently has over 100 branches in markets like Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

    A study by Shanghai Jiao Tong University said Shanghai has the most coffee shops of any city globally by January 2021, with more than 6,900 coffee shops in the metropolis.

    Shanghai has vowed to build itself into an international consumption city, promoting the concept of a ‘debut economy’, meaning that businesses from home and abroad are attracted to open their first stores and launch new products in Shanghai.

    Local authorities expect 1,000 such “first stores” in the city to open last year.

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  • Inside Swarovski’s first Asian flagship store, at Shanghai

    Inside Swarovski’s first Asian flagship store, at Shanghai

    Swarovski has just opened its first Asian flagship store in HK Plaza, Shanghai. On the heels of the brand opening its Instant Wonder pop-up boutiques in 27 key locations around the world earlier this year, the Shanghai flagship will welcome customers into Swarovski’s world on a more permanent basis.

    “Throughout the journey of our transformation, we have been working towards a moment like this,” notes CEO Michele Molon, “The moment where guests can not only explore Swarovski products, but immerse themselves in our point of view, our personality, and the experience of intimately understanding the sense of joy and innovation from which each item is created.”

    As one of the key markets of Swarovski — and luxury as a whole — China, in particular the creative hub of Shanghai, feels like the natural place to open the brand’s first flagship in Asia. And this is no normal flagship. Creative Director Giovanna Engelbert sought to create in Wonderlab a place that transports customers into the imaginative world of Swarovski.

    Rooted in brand codes, colors, packaging, and heritage, the Swarovski Wonderlab does just that. “I am incredibly excited to unveil this beautiful space, inspired by the forward-moving landscape of China and her people. It’s the biggest, most ambitious store we’ve made, centimeter by centimeter thought through and brought into reality,” commented Englebert.

    Ambitious isn’t even half of it. Take in the metallic pink of the Wonder Room with a rotating central display and custom Swarovski Swan chairs or the Lucent stairwell which climbs to the Dream Room. Robotic arms nod to the innovation behind Swarovski’s developing offering, standing in stark contrast to the pastel pinks and mesmerizing crystals that define the rest of Wonderlab. The Swarovski Wonderlab is nothing short of a dreamscape in the heart of Shanghai.

    Swarovski’s Shanghai flagship opened on December 10, so be sure to visit for a taste of the future of retail if you’re in Shanghai.

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  • China Mobile shares rise marginally in Shanghai debut

    China Mobile shares rise marginally in Shanghai debut

    China Mobile Ltd shares debuted on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Wednesday, soaring to 63 yuan, 9.4% higher than the offer price of 57.58 yuan in early trading, before closing at about 0.52% higher at 57.88 yuan.

    The carrier’s Shanghai shares traded more than 40% higher compared to its Hong Kong-listed shares, which closed 3.33% higher on the same day, boosted by an earlier announcement to buy back up to 2.05 billion shares worth about US$13 billion.

    Raising US$7.64 billion, China Mobile’s public share offering is also China’s largest in a decade.

    China Mobile’s homecoming listing is closely watched. In May 2020, China Mobile exited the New York Stock Exchange when it was added to a growing list of Chinese companies blacklisted by the US. China Telecom and China Unicom were also ousted from the US exchange.

    China Mobile said that proceeds from the offering will be used to expand 5G capabilities, cloud infrastructure, and intelligent ecosystems.

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  • Bimba Y Lola opening in China

    Bimba Y Lola opening in China

    Spanish contemporary fashion label Bimba Y Lola is launching in China with a joint venture with ImagineX, Lane Crawford Joyce Group’s distribution and brand management arm.

    With a corporate office to be set up in Shanghai, the brand aims to establish a retail presence on Alibaba’s Tmall and Tencent’s WeChat, and physical pop-ups by 2022, to ramp up brand awareness and customer following.

    It will be followed by store rollouts, with plans to open 30 points of sale across 15 major cities in China, including Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Chongqing in the next five years.

    Founded in 2005, Bimba Y Lola targets fashion-forward Millennials and Generation Z with ready-to-wear, jewelry, and accessories. It operates more than 290 stores across 20 countries, including the U.K., France, Singapore, and South Korea.

    According to researchers at SEMrush, Bimba Y Lola’s website traffic saw some of the biggest surge pre-pandemic, outperforming traditional retail fashion leaders such as macys.com and online giant Amazon.

    Last month, Madonna’s daughter Lourdes Leon made her fashion campaign debut with the brand’s fall 2021 campaign, a jaunt through a digital landscape.

    Uxia Dominguez, founder and president of Bimba Y Lola, believes that in China, a market of strategic importance yet one that is unique and complex to navigate, ImagineX has the right channels to unlock the potential of the brand.

    Alice Wong, president of ImagineX, thinks that the brand will resonate well with “Chinese consumers, especially the Gen Zs and Millennials.”

    “They have an increasing appetite for international accessible-luxury and affordable brands with cutting edge design, which truly stands out from the crowd,” she added.

    ImagineX manages 25 brands, including Salvatore Ferragamo, Canada Goose, Ba&sh and Club Monaco, with 448 points of sale across 48 cities in the Greater China region.

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  • Hermes reopens it’s Shanghai flagship

    Hermes reopens it’s Shanghai flagship

    On 29th October 2021, Hermès is delighted to open the doors of its newly renovated store in the prestigious Plaza 66 in Shanghai. Spanning over two floors and 656 m2, the vision for this store evokes the richness of the local culture and Hermès’ connection with the city of Shanghai, creating an engaging backdrop for discovering the 16 métiers of the house.

    The new design is established with the store’s powerful façade, which now features a long window carved into its impressive stone surface to allow more natural light to filter through. The transparency of the storefront below is also improved thanks to the generous addition of windows set in a deep-green tinted glass that mingles invitingly with the mineral hues of the stone tiles.

    Transformed by the Parisian architecture agency RDAI, the interiors feature a fluid, curved layout, drawn in response to the existing volumes of the space. Distinctive architectural gestures, like the sculptural lines carved into the soaring ceilings and the rounded walls, enhance the customer path from one side of the open-plan area to the other. Throughout the store, a richly evocative colour palette of deep blue-green, burgundy, and caramel, alternating between matte and lacquer surfaces with added accents of plush velvet, are employed in an impactful way to create a sense of intimacy for each métier. Three-dimensional custom designed carpets with superimposed geometric forms in vivid, saturated colour give structure and individuality to each universe.

    From the main street side entrance, guests are greeted with an animated display of women’s silk and a generous offer of fashion accessories. On the other side of the mall, there is a wider selection of women’s silk and accessories, perfume and beauty. These two entrances include mirroring features that are hallmarks of the house: the Hermès ex-libris underfoot and the iconic “Grecques” globe lighting overhead. The hand-assembled inlaid stonework reflects the house’s savoir-faire: based on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré motif, the pattern disperses before merging again on the other side of the store. The surrounding terrazzo flooring is flecked with preserved pieces of stone from the existing interior façade. Intimate corner spaces and salons on the ground floor are dedicated to the jewellery and watches, as well as the perfume and beauty métiers – fitted out in saturated blue-green tones that contrast with the hand-painted walls and cherrywood cabinetry.

    A new, sweeping staircase serves as an architectural feature and an eye-catching exploration of form that undulates. Above the stairs floats a commissioned work by Chinese artist Xiaojing Yan. The delicate sculpture, almost 2m in height, is a cloud-like vision of a horse at full gallop, crafted from over 10,000 glass pearls suspended by threads. The ascent from the first to the second floor follows a gradient, hand-painted frescoed wall that carries on through to the men’s universe and home collections on the second floor. Natural light from the new window bathes the space in a lustrous warmth and a communal table encourages guests to linger for a coffee. Arriving from the mall through a third entrance here, the line of sight travels past the home and equestrian

    collections, the leather goods, enveloped in warm and glossy tones of red and deep burgundy, through to the spacious women’s universe. Elegantly clad fitting and VIP rooms, as well as numerous lounge areas furnished with deep leather sofas and armchairs, create an inviting ambience throughout the space.

    In the tradition of establishing a distinct identity for each Hermès locale, a collection of carefully selected artwork, contemporary photography, carré prints, and works from the Émile Hermès collection seamlessly blends the past and present.

    This new Hermès store offers local customers and new visitors an utterly bespoke retail experi- ence, set in an engaging and welcoming environment. It binds the culturally vibrant essence of Shanghai with the Parisian house’s contemporary creative spirit and fine craftsmanship.

    Since 1837, Hermès has remained faithful to its artisan model and its humanist values. The freedom to create, the constant search for beautiful materials, the transmission of savoir-faire of excellence, and the aesthetic of functionality all forge the singularity of Hermès, a house of objects created to last. An independent, family owned company, Hermès is dedicated to keeping the majority of its production in France through its 51 workshops and production sites and to developing its network more than 300 stores in 45 countries. The group employs almost 17,000 people worldwide, including nearly 10,600 in France, among whom more than 5,600 are craftsmen*. Axel Dumas, a sixth-generation family member, has been Hermès CEO since 2013.

    Founded in 2008, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès supports projects in the areas of artistic creation, training and the transmission of savoir-faire, biodiversity, and the preservation of the environment.

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  • Gentle Monster opens Haus Shanghai

    Gentle Monster opens Haus Shanghai

    Luxury eyewear label Gentle Monster has unveiled the design of its first Haus concept store outside South Korea in Shanghai, the world’s largest Gentle Monster store.

    The launch of the Shanghai store follows the opening of Haus Dosan in Seoul earlier this year, opening chapter two of the Haus project. Featuring a ‘Future Retail’ theme, the four-story Haus Shanghai houses fragrance brand Tamburins’ first physical store in China and dessert brand Nudake.

    “Haus Shanghai provides more than a commercial experience,” Gentle Monster said in a statement. “By inciting emotional provocation in visitors, Haus aims to deliver an unprecedented cultural experience.”

    Gentle Monster combines retail experiences, pop-ups, and art exhibitions inside the 3270sqm retail space. Haus Shanghai’s first floor houses the Nudake store, where visitors can find a variety of artistic desserts. Gentle Monster’s signature six-legged walking robot, The Probe, is located at the centre of the floor alongside kinetic horses, “capturing Nudake’s spirit of experimentation and fantasy”. Visitors can also find various forms of collaged media art and aesthetic furniture here.

    The second floor, Gentle Monster’s largest retail space, is designed under the theme ‘Circulation’ with pliant art pieces cutting through the centre, forcing an unexpected flow of traffic inside the space.

    Meanwhile, the third floor presents a large exhibition space designed for media art exhibitions and collaboration pop-ups. At the heart of the space, a robotic face called ‘The Giant’ is located alongside sculptures and installations, depicting the theme ‘The Giant Who Arrived at the Bird Village’.

    China’s first Tamburins flagship store is situated on Haus Shanghai’s top floor, “expressing elegance and individuality through the delicate balance of spatial elements”. The space is highlighted by a wall art installation ‘Twig’ covered in tree branches, illustrating “the intersection of luxury and rawness through the combination of contrasting materials”.

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