Maison Mode To Take The Former Site Of Lane Crowford In Shanghai

Department store Lane Crowford is going to formally withdraw from Times Square in Shanghai and another department store giant, Maison Mode, will enter with its new store in April 2007.

Hou Wei, assistant general manager of Shanghai Times Square, discloses that the new Maison Mode department store will cover an area of over 3800 sqm, taking up three floors–much larger that that of Lane Crowford. Maison Mode will provide luxury brands such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Hugo Boss, Paul & Shark, and Canali on its first floor, and offer fashionable brands such as BCBG, DKNY, JC Versace and Just Cavali on the second floor. Shoes and decorations will be located on the third floor.

The biggest difference between Maison Mode and Lane Crowford is that the former mainly offered top-end brands familiar to the general Chinese customers. Hou Wei says that most top-end clients in Asia still focus on the brand of products, while most products in Lane Crowford are not well-known in mainland customers, and that's why Lane Crowfors ran into trouble in Shanghai.

Hou also told local media that in order to accompany the opening of Maison Mode, Shanghai Times Square will undergo a major renovation, which will be completed in January 2007.

Founded in 1994, Maison Mode offers a wide selection of world famous designers' labels, luxury brands and lifestyle products. It now has five stores in China, which are located in Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing and Xi'an, respectively.

Lane Crowford is Hong Kong's leading fashion specialty store, which also provides a large range of international designers and luxury brands in Greater China.