The Best New Retail Stores and Innovations in Asia

Asian retail is considered some of the most innovative and interesting in the world. This month we’ve found multiple stores that include art within their spaces. This includes a video installation from a German fashion brand, luxury and footwear brands using their own historical items as art pieces, and a bold sustainable artwork designed to make customers think about the planet. Retail and hospitality are becoming a common partnership, as we discovered a luxury car brand partnering up with a prestigious hotel, and a footwear brand allowing independent businesses to host cafes on premises. Read on for our selection of the best new retail stores we can find across Asia.

Art, Fashion, and Luxury Flagships

032c, Seoul

German art and fashion brand 032c has launched its first store in Seongsu, bringing its industrial Berlin aesthetic to Asia. The store juxtaposes stark white walls with suspended rails for clothing, with a bright red zoned area for the art gallery. Customers will be able to purchase the new ready-to-wear collection from Maria Koch, as well as posters and prints. The launch opened with a special video installation, Catastrophe Colours, across two screens.

Balenciaga, Tokyo

A new three floor flagship store has opened in Ginza from luxury brand Balenciaga. The design of the store uses the brand’s Raw Architecture theme, which contrasts metal and resin with concrete, resembling a car park. Sustainability has also influenced the designers who have made sure to preserve original features of the building and reduce the use of new materials. Products on offer include womenswear and menswear as well as a limited edition Ginza Tokyo collection. Visitors to the launch were privileged to view rare Balenciaga couture as part of the exhibition Dresses Beyond Time.

Sustainability and Community-Centric Retail

Anta Zero, Shanghai

Chinese sports store Anta has launched a special sustainable store for Earth Day. The store was designed to reduce construction-related emissions and make use of existing materials, such as fabric scraps and second-hand items. The brand hopes to educate consumers about sustainability through workshops, art and literature. Shoppers can also take part in Remake workshops to upcycle their t-shirts with recycled materials, including tags made from packing boxes. The space contains special artworks using recycled materials, such as Earth Hour, which has been created to change and grow for customers to understand the power of nature.

atmos Gold, Tokyo

Footwear brand atmos has re-launched its boutique in Sendagaya with a new concept, atmos Gold. The concept includes a special display built into the floor which showcases a range of footwear designed in collaboration with other brands. Visitors to the space can visit one of the cafes that have been added. These are independently run and are part of atmos’ engagement with the local community. A space for holding events and brand collaborations has also been added, promising further community engagement from the brand.

Specialized Showrooms and Niche Retail

Aston Martin, Tokyo

The five-star Peninsula Tokyo is the location for the new Aston Martin flagship and showroom. The opening is part of Aston Martin’s ultra-luxury concept following its success in New York. The large two-floor space contains display space for three of Aston Martin’s most iconic cars. There is also a display wall for media and information about the car brand. Customers can also relax in the lounge and create a personalised version of an Aston Martin car.

Vino.H, Seoul

Wine importer Vino.H has launched a new store in Munjeong-dong. Typically, the brand has supplied wine to other brands and stores and this is its first foray into retail. The space will display a range of curated wines that are imported by the company, including smaller brands that are less well-known in the country. The store also functions as an education space, with information provided to customers about various wines and how they differ between wineries.

Strategic Business Investments and Automation

Alibaba and the New Retail Strategy

Alibaba Group said it will pay around RMB5.45 billion ($867 million) for a 15% stake in Beijing Easyhome Furnishing, China’s second-largest home-improvement supplies and furniture chain. The latest investment underscores Alibaba’s ongoing drive to expand New Retail – a business model that integrates brick-and-mortar and online shopping to create a seamless experience for consumers. The investment will combine the strengths of the world’s largest e-commerce platform and rich offline sources of Easyhome. Easyhome has 223 stores in 29 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across China.

Retail Automation and Technology

Now Retail Group, an innovative automated retailer, has been acquired by Photo-Me Int. Now Retail Group is a long-established, highly innovative automated retailer of private label products through a network of automated vending kiosks in Australia and Singapore. Additionally, Retailetics, a retail automation company, provides brick and mortar retailers with AI-powered solutions and accurate insights into hyperlocal demand, helping them plan their inventory better and increase sales.

Summary of Featured Retail Innovations

• 032c (Seoul): Industrial aesthetic with a dedicated art gallery and video installations.
• Anta Zero (Shanghai): Certified carbon neutral products and upcycling workshops.
• Balenciaga (Tokyo): Raw Architecture theme and exclusive art pieces in Ginza.
• atmos Gold (Tokyo): Community-run cafes and floor-integrated footwear displays.
• Aston Martin (Tokyo): Ultra-luxury showroom featuring iconic cars and personalization lounges.
• Easyhome (China): Integration of offline home-improvement sources with Alibaba's e-commerce platform.