Gentle Monster, South Korea
Situated in Seoul, Gentle Monster’s flagship store ‘Sacrifice’ blends art, design, and retail… surreally! Across three floors, visitors are invited to explore imaginative installations like Max Siedentopf’s More Is More and Sunshine – a giant dachshund shifting between dreamlike and futuristic forms. The first-floor garden features the striking statue, ‘Eye of God’ statue, making this experimental space a must-visit for its creativity and photo-worthy design.
Xinu, Mexico
Set within a lush garden in Mexico City’s Juárez neighbourhood, Xinú Marsella transforms a former car workshop into a serene, scented haven. Designed by Esrawe + Cadena, the rounded wooden pavilion invites visitors on a sensory journey through scents, candles, and botanicals. Expansive windows blur boundaries between outside and in, creating a tranquil space that celebrates craft and the art of fragrance.
Dior’s 30 Avenue Montaigne, France
In Paris – where else! – Dior’s historic townhouse celebrates French art de vivre under Chef Yannick Alléno, who oversees the Monsieur Dior restaurant, Le Jardin pâtisserie, and Café Dior. The boutique’s ground floor showcases the women’s and men’s fashion creations by Jonathan Anderson, while the first floor features fine jewellery, couture, and Dior Maison. A serene Beauty Room offers bespoke treatments and luxury experiences.
Chengdu Zhongshuge Bookstore, China
Zhongshuge bookstore at Chengdu’s Yintai Center lures visitors with a striking glass text wall and bamboo-shaped shelves that celebrate local culture. A whimsical children’s area features panda murals and ‘mushroom’ bookshelves beneath a mirror ceiling, while a soaring red brick wall anchors intimate reading zones. The perfect destination for losing yourself in a book on a lazy afternoon.
Lush, Shinjuku, Japan
Opened in 2019 inside Japan’s Shinjuku Station – the world’s busiest – Lush Shinjuku is Asia’s largest Lush store and one of retail’s most forward-thinking spaces: across four experiential floors, tech does the talking. Lens technology showcases products in use via video, reducing the need for packaging and cutting water waste, a quietly radical rethink of what a beauty store can be. Visit Lush here in Aotearoa in their newest store located at Sylvia Park.
BLUNT Umbrellas, New Zealand
BLUNT Umbrellas’ new global headquarters transforms a building steeped in New Zealand cultural history. A working head office alongside a public showroom and first-ever walk-in repair studio, this is BLUNT’s founding philosophy of engineering joy brought to life in bricks and mortar.
