Louis Vuitton opens the doors today to “The Louis”, a new flagship space in central Shanghai that fuses retail, culture and cuisine within a striking, ship-inspired structure.
default
Located on Wujiang Road in the city’s central business district, the venue is a modern homage to both Shanghai’s maritime legacy and Louis Vuitton’s heritage in travel.
Designed to resemble a life-sized vessel, “The Louis” incorporates a retail space, Le Café Louis Vuitton, and the new “Visionary Journeys” exhibition. The project draws on the brand’s 19th-century origins in crafting custom trunks for sea travel and reflects Shanghai’s evolution as a key global port since the 6th century.
The exterior of “The Louis” evokes nautical aesthetics, from its metallic monogram hull to its stacked levels echoing historic luggage. Inside, visitors can explore a curated retail selection including leather goods, accessories and ready-to-wear for men and women. The space also includes personalisation services with Shanghai-themed stamps.
On the third floor, Le Café Louis Vuitton offers an East-meets-West dining experience. Chefs Leonardo Zambrino and Zoe Zhou present a menu combining culinary signatures with Shanghai-specific creations. Dishes include “Monogram Raviolis” inspired by jiaozis, “Louis Hao” seabream carpaccio, and desserts such as Peach Charlotte with jasmine tea.
The centrepiece of the new location is the “Visionary Journeys” exhibition, spread over two floors. Designed by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA, it explores Louis Vuitton’s legacy through themes of travel, craftsmanship, fashion and innovation. The entrance features the “Trunkscape”, an immersive archway of monogrammed trunks first seen in Bangkok and Osaka.
The exhibition includes a dual timeline of the House’s Asnières roots and maritime milestones, a room dedicated to historic and whimsical travel designs, and displays of fragrance, sport, literature and fashion. Highlights include Ernest Hemingway’s custom Library Trunk, Olympic trophy cases, and heritage handbags like the Alma and Speedy, reinterpreted through the lens of past and present creative directors.
Visitors can also observe live demonstrations of the brand’s craftsmanship in the workshop section, where artisans use tools like “Louise” and “Louisette” to maintain quality standards.
Admission to “The Louis” is complimentary, with registration available via the “My LV” WeChat mini programme. Opening hours are 10:00 to 22:00 daily at HKRI Taikoo Hui, No. 789 West Nanjing Road, Shanghai.
