LVMH has for decades possessed a close relationship with the Japanese consumer. Now with the opening of three new flagship stores in Tokyo’s Ginza district, this bond has only been tightened. With a focus on pairing brands with structures that exude their own identity, these boutiques are sure to provide a top tier shopping experience.
Featured image: © Loro Piana
Images: © Loro Piana
All situated in the heart of the Ginza district, the new Loro Piana, Hublot, and Zenith boutiques benefit from increased accessibility and architecturally inclined homes, which match both the identity of their own brands while paying homage to the culture of their host country. For example, the elongated curves of the front façade on the Loro Piana tower are the work of Japanese architect Jun Aoki, who aimed to create a structure that reflects Loro Piana’s “sensual fabric draping.” This project in regards to Loro Piana is particularly fascinating as it’s the first time the brand chose to express their identity through architecture. On the subject of the new boutique, Loro Piana Chief Executive Fabio d’Angelantonio explains, “Japan is very much a quality driven market, with touch being key in ‘feeling’ the quality of the products. The Japanese also highly appreciate not only how an object appears, but also what’s behind it, its construction and details, aspects where Loro Piana excels.”
Images: © Hublot
Just next door to the new Loro Piana boutique is a striking black tower on Chuo-dori Street, which now houses the boutique of Swiss watchmaker Hublot. Here laminated dark glass panels resemble scales, as if the tower may morph into Godzilla at any moment. However, the true purpose of these panels is to glow from within during evening hours and shine with reflected sunlight during daytime. Inside the boutique an equally modern design has been achieved. Speaking on their new presence in Ginza, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe said, “this project has been in the pipeline for months and we wanted to complete it and affirm our presence in Japan, our largest market in terms of domestic sales, since sales to tourism clientele account for barely 5% of the total. So we’re expecting a faster rebound here than elsewhere.” Interestingly enough, is the fact that Japan isn’t only the largest market for Hublot, but Zenith as well!
Images: © Zenith
Particular highlights of the tile clade Zenith boutique on Namiki Dori Street are found inside, where shoppers can explore the infinite world of time and space by looking up into a ceiling that represents Zenith’s philosophy of “Time to Reach Your Star.” Zenith’s story bar is touted by the brand as the perfect spot to “enjoy a drink while [you] learn more about Zenith from videos featuring the Maison’s history and savoir-faire.”
Although many similar brands have postponed the opening of new boutiques due to the global pandemic, LVMH has moved forward with the “inaugurations” of their newest boutiques in Japan. Speaking on the subject of the new openings, Julien Tornare, CEO of Zenith, stated: “Despite the Covid-19 crisis and the short-term economic impact, our brand’s plans and ambitions remain intact. The foundations established in recent years and our very good 2019 results bolster our confidence in our strategy. And expanding our own-store network is a pillar of this strategy.”
All images provided courtesy of: LVMH
