LOUIS Vuitton (LV) announced Friday plans to open a dedicated furniture and homewares store in Shanghai, a world first for the French luxury brand as it aims to expand further into lifestyle offerings to affluent Chinese clients.

The appointment-only showroom, which will open today, is located in a century-old three-storey mansion situated just behind the Nanjing Road, the city’s premier upscale shopping strip.

Louis Vuitton, part of LVMH, said in a statement the showroom will be trialled for several months as a pop-up and if successful will then become a permanent feature.

While no price tags were on show at the store during a media preview, a Louis Vuitton employee said a brightly hued hanging cocoon chair designed by the Campana brothers is priced at more than 700,000 yuan (US$97,860) and a small lamp resembling a glass milk bottle encased in leather straps cost 10,500 yuan.

A smaller side building is dedicated to showing designs by Frank Chou, the first Chinese mainland designer tapped by Louis Vuitton to collaborate on the Objet Nomades collection, as the furniture and homewares ranges are known.

Finding new avenues for growth, particularly among wealthy consumers, is becoming increasingly important for luxury brands in China as luxury spending is pressured by COVID-19 outbreaks.

Louis Vuitton dipped its toes into a more lifestyle-oriented offering in China last month when it opened a store in the southwestern city of Chengdu that included an exhibition space and restaurant. (SD-Agencies)