Page 14 - #181 May 2023

ASIA

UNIQLO HAS UNVEILED A BRAND NEW PROTOTYPE
STORE CONCEPT IN JAPAN

The new prototype Uniqlo Maebashi Minami IC store
is located at Maebashi, in the Gunma Prefecture and
features innovative design elements designed to help
minimise energy usage, in line with the company’s target
to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in its own store
and office operations by 90 per cent by 2030.
With Kashiwa Sato, Creative Director and CEO,
Samurai Inc at the design helm, the store also brings
together a range of the newest Uniqlo lifestyle services,
including the Uniqlo Flower florist shop, Uniqlo Coffee
café and Japan’s first permanent Re.Uniqlo Studio – the
company’s repair, reuse, recycle and remake service.
“With the new Maebashi Minami IC Store, we have
created a new type of Uniqlo, where customers can
both shop for our clothing, as well as gather and connect
with each other,” Group Executive Officer, Masahiro
Endo commented.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN FASHION RETAILER FJ BENJAMIN IS LEANING INTO THE POST-PANDEMIC RETURN OF BRICK-AND-MORTAR RETAIL WITH THE OPENING OF ‘AVENUE ON 3’, A SWANKY
MULTI-BRAND LIFESTYLE STORE IN SINGAPORE’S PARAGON SHOPPING CENTRE. DOUGLAS BENJAMIN, GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF FJB, SAID: “WE HAD A LOT OF TIME DURING
THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN TO THINK OF HOW WE WANT TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, HOW TO MAKE THEIR SHOPPING EXPERIENCE MORE EXCITING AND
EXPERIENTIAL AND ESSENTIALLY, HOW WE WANTED TO REIMAGINE THE BUSINESS OF FJ BENJAMIN. DESIGNED TO CATER TO HIGH-END CUSTOMERS CRAVING FRESH AND INNOVATIVE
SHOPPING EXPERIENCES, AVENUE ON 3 IS AN 8,000SQ FT BOUTIQUE OVERLOOKING THE SHOPPING CENTRE’S ATRIUM FROM THE THIRD FLOOR.
CULTI MILANO OPENS LOEWE OPENS FIRST-EVER
FLAGSHIP IN HONG KONG RECRAFT STORE IN OSAKA

Italian fragrance brand Culti Milano opened its first Asia flagship Spanish luxury brand Loewe has unveiled its very first store
store in Hong Kong in April, located along Hollywood Road in the to specialise in repairing and maintaining Loewe leather items,
Central Business District. making its debut in Osaka, Japan.
Designed by Hong Kong-based interior decorator Alexis Dupont, Located in the Hankyu Umeda department store, the new
the new store recreates Culti Milano’s ‘culture of ambience,’ ‘Loewe ReCraft’ store has opened with a full-time leather artisan
presenting the brand’s range of home fragrances and genderless who will be on hand to mend and fix Loewe’s small leather goods,
perfumes in a well-appointed space. A Bauhaus-style lounge area including restitching, puller replacements and edge painting, as
welcomes customers to explore the store’s retail range. well as regular leather goods, for eyelet and rivet replacement, in
Founded by Italian interior designer Alessandro Agrati in 1990, addition to handle replacements.
Culti Milano’s bestselling products are it’s home fragrances, which The store will also offer woven leather baskets that were
use reed sticks with natural microscopic pores in diffuser bottles. created from re-purposing high-quality surplus materials from
Agrati is credited for being among the first to create and retail reed previous collections.
diffuser scents for the home. As a limited offer at Loewe ReCraft, signature basket bags will
The flagship store is designed to highlight the unique atmosphere be reintroduced with leather patches and straps crafted from
of each home fragrance, featuring warm, balanced tones alongside surplus leather materials. The store will also feature a space
maple wood and travertine typically used in Italian architecture to where Loewe items can be personalised with monogramming,
create a refined yet cosy atmosphere. straps, charms or studs.

14 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL MAY 2023