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The Latest Boutiques: Piaget, Brioni & Louis Vuitton
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Brioni unveils three boutiques in the United States, whilst Prada reinvigorates its original Milanese location in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II L’Avenue Mall Shanghai Adding yet another string to its already…
Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.
PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.
In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”
The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris
Brioni unveils three boutiques in the United States, whilst Prada reinvigorates its original Milanese location in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
L’Avenue Mall Shanghai
Adding yet another string to its already impressive bow, LVMH has launched L’Avenue luxury mall in Shanghai, as a joint venture between LVMH’s real estate arm L Real Estate and Hong Kong real estate developer Stanley Ho.
Naturally the majority of LVMH luxury goods brands are represented; Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Bulgari, Celine, Loewe and Tag Heuer. But L Real Estate has also managed to house other luxury brands such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, Prada and Ralph Lauren.
In Yekaterinburg, Russia, the retail situation has proved too complicated for Chanel, Fendi and Bottega Veneta, which are closing their local stores. The news follows the closure of Ferrari and Maserati dealerships last year and the downsizing of the directly operated Dior boutique.
Until recently, Yekaterinburg, was Russia’s third biggest luxury shopping destination, with the highest number of luxury fashion and accessories mono-brand stores after Moscow and St Petersburg. Though the local retail economy is set to be suffering at the hands of locals who prefer to take non-stop flights to Dubai to do their shopping.
Brioni, Miami
Brioni has opened three boutiques in the United States, in Chicago, Costa Mesa and Bal Harbour Shops Miami. The Bal Harbour store boasts approximately 700 square metres of premium custom-tailored suits, blazers, formal shirts, jeans, silk ties, exotic skin shoes, belts and socks, replete with prized lacquers, bronzed brass, velvet and ribbed wood.
Source: Miami.com
Carrera y Carrera, Beijing
Spanish jeweller Carrera y Carrera has launched its first flagship store in China, at Park View Green Beijing. Park View Green in the Chaoyang district, is the Chinese capital’s newest and first eco-certified mixed-use luxury real estate complex. The boutique spans 60sqm including a VIP reception area for top clients and a reproduction workbench to symbolise craftsmanship.
Source: CPP Luxury
Fendi, Kuwait City
Fendi has unveiled its latest kids’ store in Kuwait City, joining freestanding children’s boutiques in Hong Kong, Rome, Prague, Jeddah, Tokyo, Singapore and Doha. “We’re glad to announce the opening of the first Fendi Kids Store in Kuwait City, located in the Avenues Shopping Mall, an adorable and cosy space carrying collections from the new-born to kids,” announced the Italian brand on Facebook.
Source: Luxuo
Gucci, Paris
Gucci has opened two new boutiques at Paris-Charles de Gaulle International airport. The T2E accessories boutique spans 120sqm, offering travellers a range of bags, shoes, small leather goods, belts, and sunglasses. The 60sqm T1 store also focuses on accessories, designed in keeping with the creative concept of Gucci creative director Frida Giannini.
Source: DFNI
Louis Vuitton, Beijing
Louis Vuitton has opened in Beijing’s Shin Kong Place – the top-ranking mall in China based on sales. The new flagship store focuses exclusively on women’s ready to wear and accessories. “With this new store, we would like to take a step further and provide adapted shopping experience and service for our sophisticated clientele,” explained Philippe Fortunato, president of Louis Vuitton China.
Source: Mao Suit
Maiyet, NYC
Maiyet has debuted its first ever brick-and-mortar boutique in New York City, on Crosby Street between Grand and Howard. The 760sqm space is modern and minimal, featuring Jaipur block printing, Kenyan horn-and-metal work, embroideries from Ahmedabad, and hand-woven silks from Varanasi. The store will retail jewellery, accessories, shoes, and ready-to-wear.
Source: Refinery29
Moncler, Milan
Moncler has opened a second Milan destination on via Montenapoleone, alongside a boutique on via Spiga. The 240sqm store was designed by Gilles & Boissier, and will feature all Moncler women and men’s collections, including Gamme Rouge by Giambattista Valli and Gamme Bleu by Thom Browne.
Source: Vogue Italia
Piaget, Ngee Ann City
Piaget has unveiled its new boutique in Ngee Ann City in Singapore, officiated by Eduardo Tartalo, General Manager of Piaget South-East Asia, Lim Jee Yah, Director of Toshin Development Singapore Pte Ltd and John Werner, Chief Operating Officer of Richemont Luxury Singapore. The new outlet is a contemporary setting celebrating fine craftsmanship and elegance.
Source: Luxury Insider
Prada, Milan
Mario Prada opened his first shop in 1913, in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. To commemorate its centennial and the significance of the venue, Prada has unveiled the initial phase of the restoration project, which includes renovating a quadrant of the Galleria facing the historic central intersection diagonally adjacent to the existing Prada store.
The space will be dedicated to the men’s collections. The new setup will boast avant-garde technology while respecting the uniqueness of the architectural context. The later phases will include a restaurant on the mezzanine, the restoration of the inner courtyard and the conversion of the upper floors as exhibition spaces. The upper floors will also serve as Prada’s headquarters.
Source: Luxury Insider
Tom Ford, London
Tom Ford has opened its first UK flagship boutique, conceived by the designer himself alongside architect William Sofield. The near-2500sqm store features a beauty room in white high gloss showcasing Tom Ford perfume and make-up, three rooms dedicated to women’s wear and accessories and two rooms dedicated to menswear, including shoes and bags.
Source: CPP Luxury
For more in the series of The Latest Boutiques, please see our most recent editions as follows:
– The Latest Boutiques: Aesop, Graff & Saint Laurent
– The Latest Boutiques: Bucherer, Céline & Rolls Royce
– The Latest Boutiques: Berluti, Lanvin & Vacheron Constantin
Creative Strategist, Digital
Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.
