MILAN, October 31, 2002 – The Armani Group today signalled its commitment to China with the official opening of Armani / Chater House, a new 3,000 square meter multi-brand store in Hong Kong’s Central District, which will now be the company’s largest retail space in the world after Armani / Via Mazoni in Milan. In the last month the Armani Group has also renovated its flagship Giorgio Armani boutique in Beijing and opened its first Armani Collezioni store, in Shenzen, as it begins to implement a retail expansion programme that will see the opening of between 20 and 30 stores in China’s most important cities over the next three to five years.
Giorgio Armani, President and Chief Executive of the Armani Group, said: 'This ambitious new retail space is inspired by the energy and vitality that everyone associates with Hong Kong. It is my hope that Armani / Chater House will quickly become a destination for a cross-section of the city’s diverse population, who are interested in fashion and style. The significant investment we have made in this project symbolises our strong belief in the future potential that China has to offer.'
On three levels, covering 3,000 square meters, Armani / Chater House brings together a world of Armani under one roof, including the Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans women and men’s fashion and accessory collections, Giorgio Armani Cosmetics, Armani Casa (home interiors), Armani Fiori (flowers), Armani Libri (books) and an Emporio Armani Caffè. The store designs were realised by Giorgio Armani in collaboration with architects Claudio Silvestrin (Giorgio Armani), Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas (Emporio Armani, Emporio Armani Caffè, Armani Libri and Armani Fiori) and the Armani Group’s in-house team (Armani Casa).
The Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and design groups in the world today. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings and fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Mani, Emporio Armani, AJ|Armani Jeans, Armani Junior, A/X Armani Exchange and Armani Casa. The Group’s exclusive retail network currently comprises 55 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 1 Giorgio Armani Accessories store, 12 Armani Collezioni stores, 113 Emporio Armani stores, 65 A/X Armani Exchange stores, 9 AJ|Armani Jeans stores, 4 Armani Junior stores and 10 Armani Casa stores in 35 countries.
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Contact: Isabelle Clavarino/Deirdre McCready
Tel: + 39 02 723181
Fax: + 39 02 72318450