“It’s been a long time coming.”
During the celebration of the opening of Givenchy, Kenzo, Loewe, and Versace in The Mall at Nustar Resort and Casino on Monday, SSI Group Inc. president and CEO Anton T. Huang told Lifestyle that they have been looking for an opportunity to bring the global luxury brands to Cebu for years, and the Gokongwei Group’s development provided just the perfect venue.
“It was really a great opportunity for us to open the luxury brand stores in an incredible shopping environment such as this,” said Huang.
Nustar Resort and Casino is a magnificent 9-hectare facility that houses hotels, restaurants, events places, a casino, and the first luxury mall in Cebu and the whole Visayas-Mindanao region. Huang said it gave them the “perfect venue” to expand their Cebu market as well as bring these iconic brands to their loyal Cebuano clients.
“A lot of the customers that we have here were likewise our customers in Manila. This gives us the opportunity to service them closer to their homes and more frequently as well, so they don’t have to come to Manila to shop at our stores,” he said.
And while it is true that the purchasing behavior of clients is evolving, especially with the accessibility provided by online shops, it’s still a whole different matter having a physical space to visit to be able to experience these luxury products themselves.
Touch and feel
While customers often go online—on social media or the website—to see what’s available, “They don’t necessarily shop online, especially for the more expensive brands. They want to be able to touch and feel it,” said Huang, explaining the continuing appeal of high-end shops.
With the opening of the Givenchy, Kenzo, Loewe, and Versace shops at The Mall at Nustar, Cebuanos now have easier access to the latest fashion and bestsellers. They can also witness up close transitions in the fashion houses, like Kenzo’s push for a more refined aesthetic while maintaining the cool, contemporary look they’ve been known for, and Givenchy’s expected return to its original DNA of elegant, feminine pieces with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship under new creative director Sarah Burton.
Versace’s abundance of white spaces and see-through and reflective surfaces draws focus to its ultra-luxe items—from clothes and bags to footwear and timepieces.
Loewe’s fun, groovy interiors feel like a throwback to a more carefree and colorful time, with artworks by Albert York framed and displayed on its orange tiled walls, suggestive of its playful mix of retro and contemporary designs.
Kenzo has also brought in its new “Red Box” concept used in its other stores abroad, which highlights the key collections in the store. And while Givenchy’s smaller space may keep the brand from matching the assortment they are able to provide in other branches, the shop is sure to keep in stock its bestsellers as well as fresh pieces that reveal the fashion house’s new direction.
