China: Hermès opens store in Wuhan, Missoni in Chengdu

By

Dominique Muret

Translated by
Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jul 19, 2022

China remains a market full of potential for the luxury industry, which hopes to overcome the current difficulties there due to the pandemic. The country saw its growth precipitated in the second quarter due to prolonged lockdown measures in several regions. However, this has not made luxury brands less enthusiastic about the region and they are continuing to expand there, as shown by Hermès and Missoni. 

Hermès has opened a new store in Wuhan, within the new shopping centre Heartland 66, which opened its doors last year. From the store’s opening on July 13, it has seen long queues at its doors. The new address replaces a former point of sale which Hermès had opened in the city in 2012. 
 
The store’s realisation was entrusted, as with its other locations, to the Parisian architectural firm RDAI which took its inspiration from the city of Wuhan, a meeting place of French and Chinese cultures, and the unique geographical location of the central Chinese region of Wuhan, divided by the Yangtze River, the brand announced in a press release. 

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The ground floor of the store houses Hermès’ silk, leather goods, ready-to-wear, and men's footwear collections. Upstairs, shoppers will find the brand’s homeware collections and the mezzanine features ready-to-wear, women's footwear, and accessories, including jewellery and watches.

Missoni has opened its second flagship store in China. Following its first store opening in Shanghai in November, 2021, the Italian brand has just set up shop in Chengdu with a 185 square-metre store in the city’s Yintai Center In99 shopping centre. The store houses Missoni’s spring/ summer 2022 men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections, its beach collection, and its line dedicated to the home. 
 
The store was developed by Milan-based architectural business BBA Studio, run by architects Barbara Ballabio and Andrea Burgio, using eco-friendly, sustainable materials. The store’s façade features Missoni’s signature zigzag pattern, which features on many of its textiles. “The designers’ idea was to create a neutral environment where the clothing and accessories’ colours and textiles can be the real stars,” the brand said in a statement.