Italian label Antonia to launch in China

Luxury fashion label Antonia is to open the first of 10 stores planned for greater China in Macau.

Antonia, headquartered in the Italian fashion capital, Milan, has signed a partnership with Guangzhou Canudilo Fashion and Accessories, which has about 300 stores in China selling its own brands in the mid to high-end fashion space, along with 100 luxury monobrand stores in partnership with Armani, Givenchy, Roberto Cavalli and others.

Antonia is the first brand to be publicly announced for the new Parisian retail development, another integrated resort with gaming, accommodation, entertainment and shopping.

The US$5 billion project will feature a half size replica of the Eiffel Tower and 320,000 sqft of retail, housing 150 boutiques grouped in replicas of five famous shopping precincts of Paris, including the Champs Elysees and Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore, as well as 3000 hotel rooms.

Antonia will take a 33,000 sqft space in the complex, according to Canudilo group president Yongfei Lin, who revealed the details during a Milan media event last week marking his company’s purchase of the Dirk Bikkembergs brand.

Just five stores will be opened in China between now and 2020, with a further following.

Antonia was founded in 1999 by Antonia Giacinti, who remains responsible for merchandise selection and store design.

Luciano Donatelli, strategic consultant for the Canudilo group, said the Macau store will be “the twin” of the Milan flagship.