Japan’s Yohji Yamamoto opens its first store in Greater China

Japanese fashion label Yohji Yamamoto is opening in Hong Kong. Set to be the brand’s first flagship in Greater China, the store will be located at the new cultural-retail destination K11 Musea, set to be known for its immersive experiences of art, culture and commerce.

With a floor space of more than 2000sqft, the store is located next to the mall entrance for high visibility. Its minimalist entrance design is intended to blend with the vast green exterior of the galleria.

The store was designed by Michael Sypkens, a Dutch-Japanese architect who co-founded the Japan-based design office Oso. Sypkens, who had worked with famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, blends Western architecture with Japanese design. The store’s look is inspired by the same “Japanese Garden” concept that inspires Yohji Yamamoto himself.

The whole store gives off a stark, monochrome look with a space filled with cement – lined with large cubes of an imitation tetrapod structure that reflects its closeness to Victoria Harbour. By recreating nature in the bustling waterfront area, it attempts to cultivate a quiet and comfortable shopping atmosphere for store visitors.

Yohji Yamamoto, 75, is a Japanese fashion designer who splits his time between Tokyo and Paris. He is renowned for his avant-garde tailoring which feature strong Japanese design influence.