A roundup of recent luxury boutique openings in the mainland China market, where brands are expected to continue modest expansion to chase the emerging Chinese middle class while seeking to maintain exclusivity:
Bottega Veneta Opens Two Southwest China Boutiques
Currently with over 20 locations in mainland China, PPR-owned Bottega Veneta recently opened two new southwest China boutiques in Chongqing and Guiyang. Designed by Bottega Veneta creative director Tomas Maier, the Chongqing and Guiyang locations precede upcoming openings in Kunming, Wuhan, Taiyuan and Shanghai. Considering it has been a magnet for major brands in recent years and has a population larger than that of Australia, BV’s decision to expand into Chongqing is fairly obvious. However, we’re intrigued by the choice of Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province — one of the poorest regions in China — which currently lacks even a Louis Vuitton boutique.
Bottega Veneta Chongqing (Starlight 68 mall, 1F, 68 Yanghe Road, Chongqing; 重庆市洋河一路68号星光68广场首层)
Bottega Veneta Guiyang (Lavant mall, 1F, Zhongshan Rd. South, Guiyang; 贵州市中山南路荔星名店首层)
Bottega Veneta Guiyang
Piaget At Nanjing’s Deji Plaza
Also in January, Piaget opened its first store in Nanjing at the city’s Deji Plaza (南京德基商场) with a ceremony attended by actress Liu Shishi (刘诗诗).
Piaget Nanjing: Deji Plaza, 18 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing
Piaget Nanjing
Renovated Bulgari Flagship in Shanghai
As previously reported by Jing Daily, last month Bulgari opened the doors of its renovated Plaza 66 flagship in Shanghai with a blowout attended by a bevy of local celebrities and featuring a distinctly serpentine theme. Centered around the lighting of a massive snake feature (identical to those seen at Bulgari flagships in New York, Tokyo and Rome) commemorating the Serpenti collection and coming just in time for the upcoming Year of the Snake, Bulgari pulled out all the stops for its grand re-opening.
Figure-Eight chandelier (Image: PR)
Michael Kors Opens In Nanjing
Joining Piaget at Deji Plaza, American “affordable luxury” brand Michael Kors recently launched in Nanjing, carrying the label’s higher-end and casual lines and stocking apparel, handbags, leathergoods, footwear, eyewear, watches and fragrances.
Michael Kors Nanjing: Deji Mall, 1F, Store C132, 18 Zhongshan Road
Nanjing Deji Plaza
Heather Grey Wall Debuts in Shanghai
Niche Japanese label Heather Grey Wall, led by designer Kazuki Kuraishi, launched a minimalist, monochrome boutique at Shanghai’s Yifeng Galleria (上海益丰外滩源) on January 9.
Heather Grey Wall Shanghai (Image: Hypebeast)
Vera Wang’s First Asian Wedding Flagship, Xintiandi, Shanghai
Vera Wang‘s first wedding flagship in Asia, located in Shanghai’s Xintiandi Style mall, has already gained a great deal of attention — both positive and negative — since its launch at the end of January. The designer’s largest bridal salon in the world, encompassing 850 square meters, the store features a reception area, exhibition section, and VIP area on one floor, and a classic line display area, accessories section, and large-scale dressing rooms on the second. The location has courted controversy in the Chinese-language press by reportedly charging prospective customers a non-refundable fee of 3,000 yuan (US$482) to try on wedding dresses.
Vera Wang Bride: 245 Madang Road, Shanghai
Vera Wang Shanghai
World’s Largest Breguet Boutique in Shanghai
Also in Xintiandi, Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Breguet recently opened its largest global boutique at the Langham Shanghai on Taicang Lu. Covering nearly 600 square meters, the glass-swathed boutique takes up three floors, giving customers plenty of room to browse the full collection of timepieces.
Breguet Xintiandi
La Perla Hits Beijing’s Parkview Green
As Jing Daily noted last month, Italian luxury lingerie label La Perla recently unveiled its fourth location in Beijing and ninth nationwide at Parkview Green in Beijing. The new flagship is the latest in La Perla’s China expansion plan, which should see the company open at least 30 boutiques in China in first- and second-tier cities over the next several years.
La Perla showcase, Parkview Green flagship (Image: FTD)
Etro Flagship, Oriental Plaza, Beijing
45-year-old Italian boutique brand Etro recently opened a 150 square meter flagship at Beijing’s Oriental Plaza, stocking men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and leathergoods.
Etro, Oriental Plaza (Image: YOKA)
Givenchy Ladies’ Store, Réel Shanghai
Located at popular luxury destination Réel Shanghai (上海芮欧百货), Givenchy‘s new 132 square meter women’s store goes minimal in terms of decor and emphasizes customer service and privacy, offering a quiet and comfortable space for browsing and buying.
Givenchy Réel