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The Latest Boutiques, Céline, Aesop & Aston Martin
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An essential round-up of the latest boutique openings by luxury brands, including DeWitt, Rolls-Royce and Porsche in Lagos, Almaty and Kolkata There are mixed reports on the retail front this…
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
An essential round-up of the latest boutique openings by luxury brands, including DeWitt, Rolls-Royce and Porsche in Lagos, Almaty and Kolkata
There are mixed reports on the retail front this month. Whilst department stores and luxury brands are abuzz with encouraging second-quarter results, a study conducted in the United States suggests a level of pessimism is growing among affluent Americans. As the debt crisis lingers, 43% of respondents reportedly feel that the current state of the US economy will jeopardise their retirement plans. 40% plan to reduce the amount of money they spent compared to last year.
With similar uncertainties looming over Europe, one wonders if the record luxury consumption seen in the first half of 2011 will have the conviction to survive, or if lessons learned from the GFC will see consumers walk towards the future with caution.
DeWitt, Hong Kong
Celebrating its first boutique in Hong Kong, DeWitt launched in the Elements luxury mall at Kowloon Station, followed by a gala dinner at the W Hotel. Inspired by the design of the DeWitt Museum in Geneva, the Hong Kong boutique features an elegant red carpet, a round showcase, precious wood and stone.
Website: luxurysociety.com/dewitt
Source: World Tempus
Missoni, London
Missoni recently launched its second London location on New Bond Street, showcasing men and women’s collections of ready-to-wear and accessories. The home collection is also featured throughout the store, with walls painted in the RAL 9010 shade of Missoni white, carpets in Kara, Berlin and Carousel shades and stools covered in the signature Missoni chevron.
Website: www.missoni.com
Source: Fashion Mag
Aston Martin, Vienna
Aston Martin, under partnership with British Luxury Cars GmbH, recently launched a temporary facility in Vienna’s city centre, for owners and new customers alike. This same address will become the permanent and dedicated Aston Martin showroom, planned to open in (European) Autumn 2011, offering over 1,000sqm of showroom and workshop space.
Website: www.astonmartin.com
Source: Finchannel
Chanel, Singapore
Doubling the size of its Singapore location, Chanel recently launched a refurbished boutique in Takashimaya Shopping Centre, dedicating an entire second floor to ready-to-wear. The 650sqm space, designed by Peter Marino, is Chanel’s largest in South East Asia and also provides dedicated areas for accessories, shoes, watches and fine jewellery.
Website: www.chanel.com
Source: Luxury Insider
Rolls-Royce, Montreal
Returning to Montreal after an absence of eight years, Rolls-Royce have launched its third Canadian destination, through a franchise agreement with Norman Hébert and Gad Bitton, principal senior executives of Première Automotive Partners.
Website: www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com
Source: The Gazette
Moncler, Beijing, Wien & Forte dei Marmi
Designed by architectural firm Gilles & Boissier, Moncler recently launched in Wien, Forte dei Marmi and Beijing, showcasing men’s, women’s and accessories collections. Debuting in Beijing’s Sanlitun North Village, the 600sqm store (pictured above), is the brands largest location in China, whilst the 110sqm boutique in Piazza Garibaldi, Forte dei Marmi, marks the brands third retail location in Italy.
Website: www.moncler.it
Source: Maosuit
Source: Fashion Windows
Royal Asscher, Tokyo
The Asscher family have partnered with the Japanese Nagahori Corporation, to open the first Royal Asscher flagship store in Tokyo. The store is located on the famous Ginza Street in central Tokyo and is the company’s first flagship store in Asia. Interiors have been decorated with white and Royal Asscher’s signature blue, showcasing a wide variety of Royal Asscher diamond engagement rings and jewellery.
Website: www.royalasscher.com
Source: Yahoo
Céline, Paris
Celebrating its fourth boutique in Paris, Céline recently inaugurated a 200sqm space on Rue de Grenelle, just a stones throw from Le Bon Marché. Formerly occupied by Miu Miu and Hermès, the new boutique replaces Céline’s accessories store formerly on Rue du Rennes.
Website & Source: www.celine.com
Jaguar Land Rover, Kolkata
Showcasing the complete range of Jaguar and Land Rover models available in India, the new Kolkata JLR dealership is the first in the eastern part of the country, following the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Pune.
Website: www.jaguarlandrover.com
Source: ZigWheels
Van Cleef & Arpels, Hong Kong
Opening its fifth Hong Kong location, Van Cleef & Arpels unveiled a space in Lee Gardens Two, featuring floral lighting displays and a dedicated bridal floor. To celebrate the launch, the French haute jeweller reinterpreted its Vintage Alhambra collection in pink gold.
Website: www.vancleef-arpels.com
Source: Luxury Insider
Aesop, Paris
Celebrating a third Parisian boutique, Australia’s Aesop launched a small store in the Marais, the brands second on the right bank. The new location incorporates raw white walls, a central cement counter and cast iron fixtures, in keeping with the idea that ‘each store is an architectural manifesto for the brand’.
Website: www.aesop.com
Source: Fashion Mag (French)
Porsche, Lagos
Legitimising Porsche’s commitment to Nigeria, the brand recently launched a large showroom and office in partnership with Stallion Motors, in Victoria Island, Lagos. The ‘Centre of Excellence in Nigeria’ invites existing and prospective clients to discover offers for Porsche vehicles and enjoy comprehensive before and after sales service.
Website: www.porsche.com
Source: Daily Sun
Comme des Garçons ‘Good Design Shop’, Tokyo
Curated alongside Kenmei Nagaoka, founder of D&DEPARTMENT PROJECT, Comme des Garçons has launched a new concept store, GOOD DESIGN SHOP, in Tokyo. The store features design items ‘that stand the test of time’, from furniture to household objects and home electronics.
Website: www.comme-des-garcons.com
Source: WWD
De Beers, Almaty
Operating in partnership with Premier Metro Group, De Beers Diamond Jewellers opened a new store in Almaty, Kazakhstan. “Our opening in Almaty demonstrates the growing demand for De Beers Diamond Jewellery globally, beyond traditional markets,” François Delage, CEO of De Beers Diamonds Jewellers, said in a statement.
Website: www.debeers.com
Source: Diamond News
Porsche Design, London & Singapore
Opening within the Harrods department store in London, Porsche Design have inaugurated a 40sqm store carrying its full range of products, from luggage and eyewear to fashion and sports apparel, watches, jewellery and writing tools. In Singapore, the brand has launched a store within The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, the world’s first to follow a completely new shop concept, which will be rolled out to other worldwide Porsche Design Stores from January 2012.
Website & Source: www.porsche-design.com
Harrods, The Corinthia, London
Opening its first ever concession, luxury department store Harrods, has launched within London’s new Corinthia Hotel. Illuminated by modern blue and white chandeliers, the boutique features white marble floors, high ceilings and glass adornments, filled with an enticing array of Harrods products, including chocolate truffles, traditional shortbread biscuits and a selection of the store’s world-renowned teas.
Website: www.harrods.com
Website: www.corinthia.com
Source: Luxuo
For more in the series of The Latest Boutiques, please see our most recent editions as follows:
– The Latest Boutiques, Lanvin, Vera Wang & Boucheron
– The Latest Boutiques, Carven, Rolls Royce & Louis Vuitton
– The Latest Boutiques, Prada, Frederique Constantin & Vertu
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.
