by YANG Shuhongji

The French luxury house unveiled the "Louis," a landmark inspired by its heritage making travel trunks. Located at HKRI Taikoo Hui, the 1,600-square-meter venue spans three levels with exhibition, a cultural boutique, and a café merging food, retail, and brand storytelling. It is LV's third permanent trunk-inspired installation worldwide and the only one designed as a giant vessel—symbolising Shanghai's identity as an "Eastern gateway."

Unlike a flagship store, the "Louis" is a hybrid combining exhibition, dining, and shopping. Similar projects in the district include Prada's Rong Zhai cultural hub and Dior's boutique at Zhangyuan, as brands pivot from product sales to experience-focused consumption.

"High-end brands are creating new scenarios to build customer loyalty," said YAO Lei, director of the Jing'an District Commerce Commission. "It's about merging social interaction and shopping."

Nanjing West Road has become a showcase for such hybrid formats. Earlier this year, LV worked with artist Takashi Murakami on three pop-ups along Julu Road, while Adidas turned parts of Yongyuan Road into themed districts appealing to younger shoppers. Kerry Centre collaborated with Pop Mart on a summer event that launched limited-edition products and boosted foot traffic.

According to Jing'an authorities, over 100 themed events have been staged across the district in 2025, attracting more than 20 million visits and generating 14.3 billion yuan in economic output.

This shift comes as consumer preferences grow more diverse and experience-driven, especially among millennials and Generation Z. Yao said many shoppers care more about cultural and emotional resonance than functional attributes. "Brands increasingly highlight cultural value to deepen their connection with customers," he said.

Luxury labels are seeing strong payoffs from this strategy. After Moncler staged its "Moncler Genius" show in Shanghai last October, local sales jumped nearly 40%.

The district now hosts over 2,000 domestic and international brands, with international names accounting for more than 70%. Many global luxury groups, including LVMH, Richemont, Kering, and L'Oréal, have major presences there. The area has become a driver of Shanghai's "first-launch economy," where new products and exhibitions debut ahead of other markets.

Jing'an reported that in 2024, the district introduced 234 first stores, the most in the city. From January to May this year, 59 new first stores were launched, including 14 of national or higher profile. Nearly 100 major "first-release" events have already taken place in 2025.

Other recent premieres include Prada's first standalone dining concept in Asia, Gucci's global debut of the "Bamboo" exhibition, Bulgari's Lunar New Year showcase, Audemars Piguet’s 150th anniversary "House of Wonder," and Celine's summer launch. Vacheron Constantin's Asia exhibition and Miniso Land's flagship are also set to open this year.

Yao noted that the "Louis" moved from concept to opening in just three months, reflecting the district's rapid support for major brands.