Alfred Dunhill opens concept store

One year after a “garage” pop-up store in Paragon Singapore, British men’s luxury brand Alfred Dunhill has opened its first-ever concept store.

Its fourth outlet in Singapore brings to life the brand’s heritage of motoring, saddlery and gentlemanly inventions and adventures, says president Francois Carrere.

“Inspired by the Alfred Dunhill home Bourdon House, the store’s decor features rich textures, contemporary and vintage furnishings, and traditional English architectural accents,” he writes on LinkedIn.

Dunhill’s roots in Singapore date back to its first store opening in 1971.

Specialising in ready-to-wear, custom and bespoke menswear, leather goods, and accessories, the brand was founded by English tobacconist and inventor Alfred Dunhill in 1907.

Dunhill was just 21 years old when he took over his father’s saddlery business in 1893. With the automobile becoming popular, he transformed the saddlery into an automobile accessories store, offering such non-standard (at the time) accoutrements as horns, lamps and dashboard clocks. Dunhill also made leather overcoats, goggles and other accessories for drivers.

In 1907, Dunhill opened a tobacco shop, followed in 1910 by his own pipe factory. Tobacco proved so successful the company expanded with shops in Paris and New York. Dunhill was the first company to develop a lighter that could be used with one hand.

The brand is now owned by Switzerland-based luxury goods holding company Richemont.