HONG KONG. Giorgio Armani and Nuance-Watson (HK) opened the world’s first Giorgio Armani travel retail boutique at Hong Kong International Airport on Friday.
A high-power VIP gathering attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests included Airport Authority Hong Kong Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui; Hong Kong Legislative Councillor (Wholesale and Retail) Vincent Fang; popular local celebrity Vivian Chow; Consulate General of Italy – Deputy Head of Mission Marco Maria Cerbo; Nuance-Watson (HK) Regional Managing Director – North Asia Alessandra Piovesana; and Giorgio Armani Group Travel Retail Manager Carla Guiducci. The Moodie Report attended from the travel retail press.
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Alessandra Piovesana celebrates Giorgio Armani opening |
Alessandra Piovesana told The Moodie Report: “It is a very important moment for us. The Giorgio Armani boutique is the culmination of all we have been doing for Nuance-Watson (HK) to make a stand in the fashion segment. The fact that Mr Giorgio Armani himself has granted us exclusivity to be the first Giorgio Armani boutique in the world in an airport is such a great honour.”
Vincent Fang told The Moodie Report: “We are very pleased to have Giorgio Armani open up his first shop in Hong Kong and it is very nicely done.”
Carla Guiducci said: “We have Emporio Armani in airports but this is the only store in the world we have for Giorgio Armani and it is a fantastic, luxury environment. We are very, very excited by this. The partnership with Nuance-Watson (HK) has been fantastic and we are very proud of it.”
Emporio Armani has opened 22 travel retail spaces in the last four years, underling the Armani Group’s commitment to the channel.
The 90sq m Hong Kong store is dedicated entirely to Giorgio Armani’s signature women’s and men’s apparel and accessory pret-a-porter collections.
The Moodie View – Giorgio Armani opens in Hong Kong |
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Top (left to right): Nuance-Watson (HK) Regional Managing Director – North Asia Alessandra Piovesana, Airport Authority Hong Kong Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui, Giorgio Armani Group Travel Retail Manager Carla Guiducci and Hong Kong Legislative Councillor (Wholesale and Retail) Vincent Fang; Below: Alessandra Piovesana tells guests of her pride in the store opening and (right) shows Airport Authority Hong Kong Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui some of the items | |
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Top: Carla Guiducci presents local celebrity Vivian Chow with an airport exclusive pair of sunglasses; Below: (left) Carla Guiducci addresses guests; (Right) Airport Authority Hong Kong Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui, Hong Kong Legislative Councillor (Wholesale and Retail) Vincent Fang and The Moodie Reort Publisher Martin Moodie | |
In a statement company founder Giorgio Armani said: “I am very proud to open my very first Giorgio Armani Boutique in travel retail: this confirms that introducing apparel, in addition to accessories, into this market was an innovative move which turned out to be a concrete success.
“Moreover, the Hong Kong International Airport is one of the world’s most important travel hubs and a prestigious location which perfectly matches the concept of my new Giorgio Armani boutique.”
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Hong Kong based Cantopop singer and actress Vivian Chow was a big hit with the large media contingent |
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The Moodie Report Publisher Martin Moodie shares a nice moment with the Airport Authority Hong Kong team (including General Manager, Retail and Advertising Eva Tsang, fourth from left) and executives from Nuance-Watson (HK) including Managing Director – North Asia Alessandra Piovesana (fifth from left) just after the ribbon-cutting ceremony |
ABOUT THE STORE
The overarching theme is the creation of an intimate personal space with wardrobes and trunks showcasing the season’s collections, where the defining material is handmade brushed silk panels.
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The store features Giorgio Armani’s signature women’s and men’s apparel and accessory pret-a-porter collections |
The floor, finished with gray stone panels, together with walls covered with gray fabric panels, creates a sophisticated ambience. A shiny dark ceiling is enhanced by the lighting design that plays with shadow and light creating focal areas. Invisible recessed lamps, transformed into spotlights, trace the contours or aim directly at the garments and objects on display.
A large men’s and women’s accessories area is located on the right side of the entrance. The furniture, including tables, displays, armchairs and lamps, is part of the Armani / Casa collection.
EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS
To celebrate the excitement of the first boutique to open in a travel retail environment, Giorgio Armani has created an exclusive range of products (embracing eyewear and writing instruments) which will only be available at the Hong Kong International Airport boutique.
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