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BusinessToday
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BusinessToday
Design on Deck: Louis Vuitton's Ship Store Makes Waves in Shanghai
Louis Vuitton has unveiled The Louis, a life-size cruise ship-inspired concept store in the heart of Shanghai. Located at the front plaza of HKRI Taikoo Hui on Nanjing West Road, this 30-metre-tall structure spans three levels and 1,600 square metres, blending retail, exhibition, and hospitality spaces under one roof. Paying tribute to the brand's 19th-century legacy of crafting hard-sided travel trunks, The Louis reimagines the spirit of exploration and luxury through architecture. The vessel-like structure not only nods to Shanghai's maritime past but also symbolises Louis Vuitton's evolution from a luggage maker to a cultural institution. 'This ship-shaped decoration echoes Shanghai's urban spirit of 'embracing all rivers and seas',' said Wu Yue, president of LVMH Greater China. Inside, visitors enter through a visually immersive archway called the Trunkscape, featuring monogram canvas trunks set against ever-changing LED nature scenes. The main exhibition, 'Louis Vuitton Extraordinary Journey,' spans two floors and ten thematic rooms that explore the maison's deep connection to maritime culture and its history. Highlights include the Origins room—filled with archival material about the brand's founders—and the Voyage room, which presents whimsical bag designs and customised travel pieces once owned by legendary globetrotters. The exhibition continues with rooms dedicated to Louis Vuitton's perfume and fashion histories, alongside the Books room, which features rare writings and sketches by Gaston-Louis Vuitton. Meanwhile, the Sports room displays purpose-built trophy trunks for events such as Formula 1, FIFA and the Olympics. The journey culminates in the Workshop and Testing areas, where visitors can watch artisans at work, offering a rare look at the craftsmanship behind the brand. The concept was designed in collaboration with architectural firm OMA, led by Shohei Shigematsu, who emphasised the trunk as the core identity of Louis Vuitton and used it as a structural and thematic element throughout the exhibition. The installation reflects Shanghai's maritime spirit as the 'Gateway to the East,' linking the city's port culture with Louis Vuitton's legacy of travel and innovation. On the top floor, Le Café Louis Vuitton offers a curated menu that fuses local Shanghai flavours with Western culinary influences. Led by executive chef Leonardo Zambrino, the bistro-style café features dishes such as monogram-shaped Chinese dumplings, a yuja-dressed Caesar salad, and signature desserts like Peach Charlotte with Jasmine Tea. Louis Vuitton's president of LVMH Greater China, Wu Yue, described The Louis as a celebration of Shanghai's cosmopolitan and innovative spirit. Meanwhile, CEO Pietro Beccari called it a new chapter in the brand's cultural evolution, embodying the 'spirit of travelling' through ideas, emotions, and inspiration in a joyful way. The Louis opens to the public on June 28, with free entry by timed reservation via the 'My LV' WeChat Mini Program. A 24-hour celebration will follow, featuring tai chi at sunrise, an illustration workshop, a culinary masterclass, and performances by local artists. Related
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ruohan Wins First Asia-Wide Sustainable Fashion Prize
Designs from the 8 finalists from the Sustasia Fashion Prize were exhibited during Shanghai Fashion Week On March 28, Ruohan was announced as the inaugural winner of the first Sustasia Fashion Prize 2025 at an imitate ceremony during Shanghai Fashion Week. Founded by sustainability expert Shaway Yeh, the award was launched in 2024 to promote sustainable practices and accelerate innovation in the fashion industry across Asia. It offers a snapshot of the diversity within contemporary fashion from the region while aiming to build a bridge between designers and material developers. The prize is powered by Yeh's consultancy Yeh Yeh Yeh and the Shanghai Fashion Designers Association, a non-profit organisation founded in 2009. The finalists announced in December included the Philippines' Jaggy Glarino (Jaggy); Khan Hoang Ngo (Khaar) from Vietnam; India's Pratyush Kumar (Pieux), and Tetsuya Doi (RequaL≡) who hails from Japan as well as local talents Karmuel Young from Hong Kong and Angel Chen. Designer Ruohan Nie with her winning designers for The Sustasia Fashion Prize held during Shanghai Fashion Week Winner Ruohan is a Shanghai-based brand founded by Ruohan Nie in 2021. Predicting the shift towards quiet luxury, it has achieved a notable amount in 3 years—debuting at Paris Fashion Week, collaborating with over 70 selected retailers, and a nomination for the prestigious Andam Prize. Nie says she entered the competition as a first step towards embracing sustainability and the win offers her confidence, marking "the starting point' of a sustainable design journey. At the prize-giving, Yeh praised the designer for a brand philosophy that sees creation as a rigorous deduction. 'Ruohan is inspired by the folding technology of creating 3D from 2D and breaks the process down into the most microscopic observation and production. She is finding a balance between business and design integrity.' Finalist Kha Hoang Ngo's brand Khaar is based in Vietmam. In December 2024, the 8 finalists met in Shanghai for a workshop where they were paired with next-gen materials. Ruohan's assigned medium was organic satin fabric with which the designer pioneered a hand-crafted overlocking process. One garment was made of 1,200 pieces of overlocked squares hand-linked together without sewing. "From my perspective, sustainability is not only about materials and wastage but 'a regenerable creative process,' Nie explained. Present on the night was jury member, Andrew Wu, President of LVMH Greater China. He outlined the rigorous judging process, stating that the focus was on 'the evolution of business models as well as the material innovation of the individual designer.' Wu suggested that sustainable fashion and commercialization are not opposing forces, but rather 'work in tandem' through exploration and practice. The resulting designs were on display to the public during Shanghai Fashion Week as part of a busy Autumn Winter '25 schedule. Yeh hopes this meeting of minds offered has given rise to a cohort with next-generation impact. 'What I want to do is emphasize to the wider world that Asia's deep-rooted traditions in craftsmanship and material innovation hold the resources and talent to drive global sustainable fashion forward.' Finalist Jaggy Glarino with designs from his brand Jaggy for the Sustasia Fashion Prize held during Shanghai Fashion Week Despite the advances being made by young and emerging designers across Asia—and globally—big corporations and companies are failing to tackle the radical change needed to overhaul the industry. On these challenges, LVMH's Wu is clear: there are no fixed answers. 'It requires a collective effort from the industry and continuous exploration," he explained, stressing the crucial role of Asian consumers—especially Chinese—whose 'changing consumption habits are driving industry-wide transformation.' From consumers to logistics, Sarah Cragg, the Asia head of The Earthshot Prize, was similarly positive about Asia's role in systemic change. Despite facing environmental challenges, Asia controls critical global supply chains and natural resources, making it 'a major force in driving sustainable development," she believes. 'For sustainable fashion to truly integrate into the commercial landscape, it must be scalable. Collaboration across the entire supply chain—from innovators to manufacturers to retailers—is essential.' Finalist Angel Chen with her design for the Sustasia Fashion Prize 2025 in Shanghai
