Since the beginning of the week, multiple reports have pointed to a new Louis Vuitton Maison opening in Shanghai, marking the second location in the city and the fourth in China. It would become the third luggage-shaped Maison store in the world, after Paris and New York. What makes this location even more special is that it literally puts the “flagship” on display. It is the first Louis Vuitton Maison in the world to have a ship-inspired design.
Appropriately named “The Louis”, the maritime-themed Maison store emerged from its covering and hoarding on 25 June and is set to open for business on 26 June with a star-studded grand opening. Spanning 1,600 square metres, the store’s exterior is inspired by the trunks and luggage Louis Vuitton crafted for sea voyages in the days of yore. The brand’s iconic monogram adorns both the bow and the trunk installation.
The three-storey venue will serve as an exhibition space, a retail shop, and a dining area. The grand opening also marks the debut of the Maison’s first fashion show and exhibition: Louis Vuitton: Visionary Journeys. Even the traffic police in the Jing’an district have announced road traffic control measures between 25 and 27 June.
Louis Vuitton and LVMH have been launching several major events in Shanghai, including the recent Louis Vuitton pop-up at the Shanghai Postal Museum. The new Maison not only signals that Louis Vuitton is doubling down on Shanghai, but specifically on the Nanjing road area, as HKRI Taikoo Hui and the neighbouring Zhangyuan (张园) are fast becoming the city’s luxury hub.