FENDI CASA - FLAGSHIP STORE OPENING IN SHANGHAI
SHANGHAI NOVEMBER 2023
By Raishind Singh Gill
FENDI Casa has recently announced the opening of its first flagship store in China, which marks a significant milestone in the brand's strategic development. The store is located in Shanghai, one of the most vibrant and avant-garde districts in China, a hub of fashion and design brands. The store's location on 1788 Nanjing West Road, a historic shopping street in the central Jing'an District, adds to its appeal.
The district developed around the Buddhist temple bearing the same name and dating back to 1216, bringing together the allure of traditional China with the vitality of a modern metropolis. The store is developed over an area of 756 square meters on the ground floor of a prestigious building and features a transparent façade designed with large windows and black banners emblazoned with a white logo. The store's interiors are designed by the FENDI Casa team under the supervision of FENDI's artistic directors Kim Jones, Silvia Venturini Fendi, and Delfina Delettrez Fendi.
The interiors showcase FENDI Casa's eclectic and distinctive spirit, and the furnishings are designed by some of the most visionary designers of our time under the creative direction of Silvia Venturini Fendi. The unifying theme of the project is the Arabescato Vagli marble that is used for the pillars and interior flooring, one of the stylistic codes of FENDI and FENDI Casa boutiques around the world.
Upon entering the store, visitors are invited to explore a series of sophisticated settings on two levels. The ground floor features three living islands showcasing some of the key designs from the new collections, such as the Peekasit and Blow Up sofas, both by Controvento, and the Five seating system by Studio Marcel Wanders. The store also features the Matrice bookcase by Dimorestudio and the Tiretto sideboard with its essential, geometric lines and whose handles, in leather with the FF logo, are a nod to FENDI's world of leather goods.
A wide sleeping area spotlights the Clouds bed and the Mirage sideboard by Chiara Andreatti, while two dining spaces feature the Totu table by Toan Nguyen with pink quarzite top, the Ottavia chairs by Cristina Celestino, and the lacquered Icaro table by Dimorestudio. Characterized by the Maison’s iconic orange, Icaro introduces an area dedicated to home décor featuring table accessories, candles, and gift ideas from the FENDI Casa Collection.
On the first floor, a large open space accommodates yet more designs. The highlights of the sleeping area are the majestic Delano Dressed bed by FENDI Casa Design Studio presented in the version with fitted side tables and the Totu bed by Toan Nguyen, a modern design conceived as a suspended island intended for rest and relaxation. The Groove & Groovy armchair by Toan Nguyen can also be found arranged in various areas of the store, offering an ideal place to relax.
Each area is enriched by a selection of lights by FENDI Casa, from the Dame lamp by Studio Marcel Wanders to the Bell chandelier by Formafantasma, and the iconic PH Artichoke hanging lamp by Poul Henningsen, the result of an exclusive collaboration between Louis Poulsen and FENDI Casa. With its highly decorative character, PH Artichoke shares the scene with the PH 2/1 and PH 3/2 table lamps from the same series, and with the PH 3½ and 2½ floor lamps, a collection of lighting systems born from the union of the Danish brand's technical know-how and the Maison's creativity, designed to harmoniously fit into spaces.
"The Peekasit Journey" is also landing in Shanghai, after Milan and Los Angeles, with Peekasit Shanghai Edition, the new seat inspired by FENDI's iconic Peekaboo. The armchair is presented in FF jacquard tonka colored velvet and has an outer shell in ivory-colored soft shearling with contrasting thread. The quality of the materials and the elegance of its lines make the seat an expression of the Maison's spirit.
The Shanghai store is not only a place to shop but also a celebration of FENDI Casa's values, history, and spirit, inspiring visitors to explore and discover the beauty of the Maison's world. The Maison's most representative visual codes expand through the collection, including the arches of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, the FF logo, the Karligraphy logo, and a touch of FENDI yellow. The store is an immersive experience, incorporating fashion, architecture, craftsmanship, and design, and is a must-visit for anyone interested in the world of FENDI Casa.