ItalianCreationGroup Plans Expansion Drive Along The Silk Road

1 min readUpdated May 30, 2025Dec 19, 20173:15 AM

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Milan-based ItalianCreationGroup, which owns Italian luxury furniture brands, plans to open 12 stores along the Silk Road over the next year.

Co-founder/CEO Stefano Core says the aim of the company’s new retail strategy is to expand its global presence, especially in Asia.

“We are opening stores from China to Iran, following the paths of the ancient Silk Road trading routes.”

ItalianCreationGroup has just opened stores in Hong Kong and Mumbai, with Tokyo scheduled this week. Next years stores will open in Shanghai, Foshan and Shenzen in Mainland China, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Jakarta and Ahmedabad in India.

“We believe in a new Italian renaissance,” says Core, whose company has over the past few years acquired Italian furniture brands including legendary Driade and FontanaArte, as well as boutique bathroom design firm Toscoquattro and luxury kitchen maker Valcucine (pictured).

He says that bringing together design firms under one roof for the first time will allow ItalianCreationGroup to offer a range of Italian high-end products to the world.

Already the company has opened flagship stores in London and New York.

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What this means

ItalianCreationGroup's rapid 12-store expansion across Asia, following initial Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Tokyo openings, represents a bold and likely effective strategy. By consolidating multiple luxury Italian furniture brands like Driade and Valcucine, the group can use a broader product offering and economies of scale. This aggressive push pressures single-brand luxury furniture retailers and existing design collectives, forcing them to reconsider their Asian expansion plans. While Louis Vuitton is contracting in Southwest China, ICG's multi-city approach mitigates single-market risks. The primary challenge will be maintaining distinct brand identities and service quality across diverse markets. Watch the success of its upcoming Mainland China store openings.

Wei Zhang · Retail News Asia newsroom

Questions & Answers

Which specific Italian luxury furniture brands are now part of ItalianCreationGroup?

ItalianCreationGroup has acquired several brands including Driade, FontanaArte, boutique bathroom design firm Toscoquattro, and luxury kitchen maker Valcucine. These firms have been brought together to offer a range of high-end Italian products globally.

What is the primary objective of ItalianCreationGroup's new retail strategy?

The main objective of the new retail strategy is to expand the company's global presence, with a particular focus on the Asian market. CEO Stefano Core aims to follow the ancient Silk Road trading routes.

Where will ItalianCreationGroup open new stores next year in Mainland China?

Next year, ItalianCreationGroup plans to open new stores in Shanghai, Foshan, and Shenzhen within Mainland China. These openings are part of their broader expansion along the Silk Road.

Which cities have recently seen ItalianCreationGroup store openings outside the planned Silk Road expansion?

ItalianCreationGroup has already opened flagship stores in London and New York. This is in addition to recent openings in Hong Kong and Mumbai, with Tokyo scheduled for this week.

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