urniture was created by artist and longstanding Acne Studios associate Max Lamb, including vibrant single-seater pouffes and steel-framed glass jars filled with batik-dyed textiles. Acne Studios is a part of a new premium tenant lineup at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, revealed in September as the city-state’s retail scene was reviving after the Covid-19 era. Other luxury labels making their Southeast Asian debuts there include Buccellati and Amaffi. Charles & Keith Hong Kong Charles & Keith has opened a flagship store in Hong Kong at Causeway Bay’s Fashion Walk. The store marks the fifth anniversary of the brand’s Hong Kong debut, its 10th store in the territory and its second flagship. The 150sqm boutique follows the brand’s new sixth-generation retail design concept, the first of which was opened in Cityplaza in 2021. The exterior, which includes lit panels, is inspired by a mix of modern and classic elements. The retail space maintains a basic aesthetic, with a simple colour scheme to create a pared-down, modern ambience filled with natural light. Hermès Hong Kong International Airport Hermès has opened a flagship store at Hong Kong International Airport, alongside the debuts of Chanel and Louis Vuitton. “Graphic sculptured brown blades with an anodised panel that reflects all movements in the surroundings” can be seen on the exterior of the renovated Hermès store. The men’s and women’s ready-to-wear departments and the private lounge were added to the flagship, which now occupies the upper floor. The overall design of the lower floor is relatively unchanged. Camille Scherrer, a Swiss interaction designer, was commissioned by the Parisian house to create the first display windows. “The artist invented a poetic diorama of an imaginative Birdland, populated by white woods and spinning pinwheels,” Hermès stated.  Louis Vuitton Chengdu The French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton established its first restaurant concept in China, branded The Hall, close to the Louis Vuitton flagship at Chengdu’s Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li retail complex. The Hall is housed in the ancient Guangdong Hall, once home to a Louis Vuitton pop-up store. To provide a wide variety of menu options, the restaurant collaborates seasonally with chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants from all over the world. The fashion brand also introduced an interactive game called Mah Jump on WeChat Mini Program as part of the event. The Hall’s launch follows the opening of the 2000sqm House of Louis Vuitton, which consists of two buildings and an open courtyard. It is the brand’s fourth restaurant in Asia, following Le Cafe V outlets at Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka Midosuji and Ginza, as well as the Maison Seoul pop-up restaurant. Starbucks Kyundong Starbucks Korea introduced the design of its fifth community store in the country, dubbed ‘Kyungdong 1960’, which has a theatre-themed decor honouring the history of the Kyundong Market. The 850sqm store, which spans two levels, has a capacity of 143 seats and a double-door entry that was retained from the original construction. The entrance leads to the centre of the store, where the bar acts as the primary stage. Customers can enjoy the bar’s perspective, which is as if they were watching a performance in a theatre. The store’s design pays homage to the Kyungdong Theater, which was erected in the 1960s and has been closed since 1994. The store honours the architect and existing materials of the former theatre, while adding retro and modern design aspects. This story first appeared in the February 2023 issue of Inside Retail Asia Magazine.