An essential round-up of the latest boutique openings by luxury brands, including Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten & Omega, in Beijing, Kuwait and Moscow
Baume et Mercier’s Hamptons inspired new boutique at Dubai Mall
An essential round-up of the latest boutique openings by luxury brands, including Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten & Omega, in Beijing, Kuwait and Moscow
Last week we asked the question: Will luxury goods experience a slowdown, on the back of current economic woes and the possibility of recession? The feelings from luxury brand executives were mixed, as were findings from reports and measures of consumer confidence, but when you examine the cold hard facts – in this case the openings of lavishly appointed boutiques – it seems unlikely that executives have pulled in the reigns on retail investment just yet.
China in particular. Economists have worried about the sustainability of China’s luxury spending boom since earlier in the year and more recently, the debate has been reignited in the wake of a maturing and changing market. Yet just this month, six major openings launched in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong alone – one being the launch of a second Harvey Nichols Hong Kong location, covering almost 8000sqm, estimated to have cost $19 million. Similarly, Lane Crawford has dedicated 2,300sqm to shoes and accessories, with hand embroidered silk panels for walls and hundreds of pieces of bespoke furniture.
If there is trouble ahead, it has certainly not yet arrived. In the meantime everyone from Vivienne Westwood to Maison Martin Margiela to Alexander McQueen have launched Mainland flagships in the hope of capitalising on China’s all-consuming boom.
Hermès, Mumbai
Although the store has been trading since July, Hermès’ have recently celebrated the official launch of its first stand-alone Mumbai boutique, the first street-level store by any luxury brand in the entire country. The Mumbai store opened within a 150-year-old building, overlooking the Asiatic Society Library and Horniman Circle gardens, reimagined by architectural firm RDAI.
The 325sqm boutique incorporates mosaic floors, wooden finishing and signature leather, housing the full range of Hermès product lines—silk scarves, handbags, perfumes, jewellery, watches, leather goods, crockery, furniture, equestrian equipment and ready-to-wear. The second floor has been converted into a gallery space, to host a mix of Indian and French artists.
Website: www.hermes.com
Source: Mumbai Boss
Alexander McQueen, Beijing
Also launching its first stand-alone store – this time in China – Alexander McQueen has opened a flagship in Beijing, in partnership with Hong-Kong-based luxury retailer Joyce. Housed within Sanlitun North Village, a luxury shopping centre in Beijing, the 400sqm space spreads across two floors, and will house the labels full range of ready-to-wear and accessories. To celebrate the occasion, Joyce and Alexander McQueen’s creative director Sarah Burton recreated the label’s Autumn-Winter 2011 show as seen in Paris.
Website: www.alexandermcqueen.com
Source: Fashion Mag
Jaeger-LeCoultre, St Petersburg
Located in the very heart of St. Petersburg, on Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street, the newly inaugurated Jaeger-LeCoultre Boutique has launched to cater to the ever-growing Russian market. The boutique, in keeping with the Jaeger-LeCoultre worldwide design concept, opened with the launch of The Reverso à Eclipses homage to Kazimir Malevich, created with the assistance of the State Russian Museum of St. Petersburg as a limited edition of 5 pieces commemorating the 80th anniversary of the legendary Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.
Website: www.jaeger-lecoultre.com
Source: Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie
Dries Van Noten, Kuwait
Al Ostoura, Kuwait’s leading luxury fashion retailer, has launched the first Dries Van Noten boutique in Kuwait, within the Al Thuraya Complex shopping mall. The 70sqm space is dedicated to womenswear and currently carries the full range of garments and accessories from Autumn Winter 2011. The concept has been designed by Mr. Van Noten and his team and feature a late Victorian brass-mountain satinwood and amaranth display cabinet, a brass spiral Stilnovo 1960’s Italian Chandelier and original Marthe Guillain compositions on canvas.
Website: www.driesvannoten.be
Source: driesvannotenfr.blogspot.com
The Shoe Library at Lane Crawford, Hong Kong
Conceived by Asia’s design golden boy, Andre Fu, Lane Crawford Hong Kong unveiled the largest shoes and accessories showcase on the continent. The Shoe Library covers over 2,300sqm, with over 200 brands lining six distinct zones. Stepping through the Canton Road entrance, clients will find themselves in the mainstay of the entire space – The Great Room – featuring 5 metre-high ceilings, library armoires in bronze and abstract French panels. Floors are finished in Romano marble and covered with elaborate rugs from the Andre Fu Collection for Tai Ping Carpets.
Website: www.lanecrawford.com
Source: Wallpaper
Hysek, Shanghai
Launching for the first time in China, Hysek opened doors in Shanghai Orient Shopping Centre, located in the bustling Commercial Building of Xujiahui, alongside ten other fine watchmaking brands. The store design has been inspired by brand values od refinement, technicality, singularity and audacity.
Website: www.hysek.com
Source: World Tempus
Bottega Veneta, New York
Bottega Veneta have opened a 185sqm women’s-only store on Madison Avenue, with walls covered in suede and door handles covered in leather. President and CEO Marco Bizzarri says, “On Fifth Avenue, we have a flagship that showcases the complete collection, and on Madison Avenue we have a boutique dedicated to a specific customer in the neighbourhood where she lives and shops.”
Website: www.bottegaveneta.com
Source: WWD
Maison Martin Margiela, Beijing
Maison Martin Margiela launched its first Mainland Chinese boutique – the largest in the world – at Beijing’s Sanlitun Village, amongst Balmain, Lanvin and Moncler. Following the debut of Maison Martin Margiela’s official Sina Weibo account on October 13, the grand opening of the store kicked off with an Autumn Winter runway show.
Website: www.maisonmartinmargiela.com
Source: Jing Daily
Baume et Mercier, Dubai
Baume et Mercier officially launched its new boutique in Dubai Mall, in partnership with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Designed in the chic understated style of The Hampton’s, the store is filled with natural materials and soft, delicate tones, perfectly reflecting the seaside luxury concept of the new territory.
Website: www.baume-et-mercier.com
Source: Zawya
Harvey Nichols, Hong Kong
Harvey Nichols opened doors on a $19 million Asia flagship in Hong Kong, spanning over 7,700sqm, operated in franchising by local Dickson Concepts Int. Ltd, marking Harvey Nichols’ sixth international opening. The store covers two floors, wit dedicated spaces for each of its “six pillars”: men, women, children, accessories, beauty and cosmetics, as well as watches and jewellery. Harvey Nichols will maintain its current store, located in Hong Kong’s central district, as a smaller outfit.
Website: www.harveynichols.com
Source: CPP Luxury
WWD http://luxurysociety.com/news/21028
Mercedes-Benz, Chennai
Mercedes-Benz have partnered with Transcar India to launch its largest automotive dealership in South India, in Chennai. Twenty models are on display in the 2,700sqm showroom, which is equipped with world-class facilities for new car sales, financing options and even sourcing spare parts. The space has been designed in such a way that at every level there is a different experience zone consisting of SUV, Sports and Specialty cars, Premium products like S Class and an exclusive accessory section along with Mercedes Café.
Website: www.mercedes-benz.comSource: Zig Wheels
Omega, Moscow
Omega have re-launched its boutique at GUM department store, in a bid to update the space to reflect the brand’s current global design concept. The cohesive, harmonious space features elements that represent air, water, earth, the sun and, of course, time. Long serving brand ambassador Cindy Crawford, was on hand to re-open the space, which faces Red Square and is the most prestigious retail address in Moscow..
Website: www.omegawatches.com
Source: Trusted Watch
Source: Retail Jeweller
Vivienne Westwood, Shanghai
Coinciding with the opening of Vivienne Westwood Shoes: An Exhibition, Vivienne Westwood has inaugurated her first flagship store in Shanghai – her third location in China. Dame Westwood was also the special guest of Shanghai Fashion Week, hosting a show featuring pieces from all labels – Gold, Red, Anglomania and MAN.
Website & Source: Vivienne Westwood
Casadei, Rome
Situated in the prestigious Piazza di Spagna, Italian footwear marque Casadei has launched its first boutique in Rome. The 100sqm space features large mirrors, black painted glass, and wooden floor centre and two day beds in red crocodile skin.
Website: www.casadei.com
Source: CPP Luxury
Eres, London
Lingerie and swimwear label, Eres has launched its first UK flagship boutique on the fringe of Belgravia in London. Georges Rabineau, the interior decorator who has created the concepts for Eres retail stores over the last decade, has designed the Motcomb Street location. Additionally, Eres has also launched its e-commerce site at www.eresparis.com .
Website: www.eresparis.com
Source: Fashion United
For more in the series of The Latest Boutiques, please see our most recent editions as follows:
- The Latest Boutiques, Louis Vuitton, Rolex & Tom Ford
- The Latest Boutiques, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci & Lamborghini
- The Latest Boutiques, Céline, Aesop & Aston Martin
