MCM celebrates fashion with art

In a landmark event for the German luxury brand, MCM has launched a gallery space in Seoul in association with the German cultural organisation Goethe-Institut. The new boutique is called Kunsthalle (the German word for art gallery). MCM’s chief visionary officer and chairperson Sung-Joo Kim said the grand opening, which took place in early September, was a significant event for the brand.

Seoul's BORN building houses MCM's new art-themed store

“This is a momentous opening for us, as the Goethe-Institut is internationally known for promoting German language and encouraging international cultural exchanges and relations,” she said. “This partnership is a wonderful way for us to celebrate our heritage, pride and tradition. The boutique sits within the BORN building (Building Of Resurrection & Newness), further symbolising MCM’s endeavour to constantly reinvent itself and forge new milestones.”

Top and above: Models at the new Kunsthalle store opening

To celebrate the store opening, Sung-Joo Kim hosted a party for celebrities, VIPs and dignatories, including the German ambassador to Seoul, Dr Rolf Theodor Schuster. Before guests discovered the location, three models showcased the new collection in a specially arranged photoshoot, using Kunsthalle as a spectacular backdrop.

Once inside the gallery, the guests admired the artwork on display, while snacking on canapes. One guest said: “I love the light in the gallery, it is so glowing and serene. The large open-plan space lends itself perfectly to this type of gathering and the whole evening looks like a chic vernissage.”

MCM's chief visionary officer with the Indonesian ambassador

For dinner, MCM – founded in Munich, Bavaria in 1976 – invited the guests onto the rooftop which was decorated in the blue and white Bavarian flag for the occasion. There, guests were shown a short film before a German dinner was served. A jazz duo and an opera group gave live performances while the guests enjoyed their meal.

Actress Bitna Wang

Actress Mi-hee Jang

Jazz singer extraordinaire Heejung Yoon and daughter Sooyeon Kim – a member of the K-pop group Bubble Sisters – dazzle the crowd with their jazz performance.

An MCM-emblazoned bus tours Seoul's Gangnam district

Throughout the day, an MCM bus drove around the fashionable Gangnam district of Seoul.

“It is the best way to get around in style and it also fits in perfectly with our Modern Mobility Project,” said Sung-Joo Kim.

VIP guests at the opening party

Gilded curvatures

The boutique features gilded curvatures contrasting with muted tones, conceived to evoke egg shells and nests in an avant-garde, contemporary aesthetic. This concept is a homage to the cycle of creativity, breaking and edifying new boundaries thus creating a constant flow, MCM said.

The first exhibition features the work of the Korean-American artist Nam June Paik. In the future, the boutique will curate the works of famous artists both locally and abroad. Nam June Paik worked with a variety of media and is considered to be the founder of video art. Paik is credited with an early usage (1974) of the term "electronic super highway". 

The main piece is titled “Oriental Painting”, which was shown in Paik’s solo exhibition in Italy. Later it went to the Gallery of Raffael Vostell. The owner of the gallery is the son of Wolf Vostell, the German artist and a friend of Nam June Paik. In 1992, the painting became part of a private collection of contemporary art in Bavaria – the birthplace of MCM.

MCM’s autumn/winter 14 Digital Soldier campaign uses the art of Nam June Paik as a reference point.

Martini F1 car motors into Milan airport

To celebrate the Italian F1 Grand Prix, a Williams Martini Racing car is on display at Milan Malpensa airport, courtesy of Martini’s brand owner, Bacardi.

The Williams Martini Racing F1 car at Milan Malpensa airport

The airport is the main arrival and departure airport for more than 125,000 fans attending the Grand Prix at the legendary Monza circuit on September 7. The event - part of a season-long promotion that builds on the successful motor racing collaboration between Martini and the Williams team - runs throughout September.

The F1 car, located in Terminal 1, is framed with race-themed fixtures to enhance the race day mood. A large-scale video screen also shows highlights from Martini’s racing heritage of almost half a century.

The Williams Martini Racing stripes feature on the car and also alongside striking brand visuals on flooring and pillars in the baggage reclaim and arrivals areas as well as inside the Dufry-operated duty-free shop.

A hostess serves a Martini Royale cocktail

A stylish tasting bar, centrally positioned in-store, offers drinks from the Martini range, and the summer dolce vita mood is enhanced with a Terrazza-style cocktail bar serving a range of cocktails. They include the classic Martini Royale drink - a 50/50 blend of Martini Bianco and Martini Prosecco, with lime wedges and ice, finished with a sprig of fresh mint.

Aude Rocourt, regional director Europe at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said: “F1 has enormous appeal and incredible resonance with the luxury lifestyle associated with Martini. We are really proud of this rare opportunity to create such an exciting and disruptive activation at Malpensa, at a time when F1 fans are travelling through the airport and to feature the stunning Williams Martini Racing F1 race car.”

Martini's airport theatrics 

Grey Goose VX debuts in Asia

To celebrate the launch of the new Grey Goose VX spirit drink in the Asia Pacific region, Bacardi and King Power Duty Free hosted a dinner for King Power’s VIP customers ahead of the in-store launch on September 1 at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport.

The event, held at Maxim’s Bistro in Bangkok, gave a group of 30 VIP customers the chance to be the first in the country – and among the first in the world – to sample the latest travel retail exclusive innovation from the House of Grey Goose and Bacardi.

Theatrics at the launch of Grey Goose VX in Bangkok

Grey Goose VX - which stands for vodka exceptionelle - combines Grey Goose vodka with drops of Cognac. Grey Goose is based in the Cognac region of southwest France.

Irving Holmes Wong, regional director Asia Pacific at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, believes there is an opportunity for Grey Goose VX in Thailand and the wider region.

“From its initial global launch last month at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, it is clear that Grey Goose VX has strong appeal to both vodka and Cognac lovers, not only for the sublime quality of the liquid which presents a new drinking occasion, but also the attraction of the beautiful decanter and its French-inspired design.”

He continued: “We were really delighted to witness its appeal at Charles de Gaulle with passengers heading home to Asia Pacific. With increasing numbers of experienced and discerning travellers in Thailand and Asia Pacific, we are passionate about giving them genuinely exciting and disruptive products and experiences to fuel the ongoing relevance of shopping when they fly.”

The Grey Goose VX decanter combines traditional and modern design

Grey Goose VX is presented in a decanter made from fine quality extra flint glass. The rounded shoulders and pronounced heavy-set stopper take inspiration from prestigious French decanters, while still retaining contemporary design cues from the original Grey Goose vodka bottle.

The new product will be released in limited allocations to selected premium airport locations.

MCM springs into Jinan

MCM has opened a new flagship store at the Hang Lung Plaza shopping mall in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, eastern China. It marks the German luxury brand’s first store in Shandong Province.

MCM's new Jinan store focuses on the Age of Travel

Hang Lung Plaza shopping mall in Jinan

The high-rise retail plaza is located in the heart of Jinan’s prime commercial district. The shape of the landmark building is organic, mimicking the undulation of cascading water against the city's natural spring backdrop and beautiful landscape.

The 300sq m flagship features a "crisp and formal" use of space in an open and bright environment providing a self-discovery oriented shopping experience, MCM said. The idea is to invite visitors to explore the collection and create their own MCM journey.

Store highlights include the theatrical Cognac Visetos displays that celebrate MCM's German heritage and the brand’s spirit of travel and mobility.

This interior wall highlights MCM's signature brass plates

MCM's Cognac Visetos backpacks and sneakers

The centrepiece of the displays is a reproduction of the Brandenburg Gate fitted with a media screen. Next to it is a classic car, reminiscent of the Golden Age of Shanghai - and another homage to the Age of Travel (the 1900s) when cars became available to the masses.

MCM’s Autumn/Winter 2014 Digital Soldier campaign is prominently displayed on a dramatic media wall beaming out images and videos.

Johnnie Walker House makes airport debut

UK drinks giant Diageo is bringing its Johnnie Walker House store concept to the travel-retail channel for the first time. The “embassies” for the flagship Scotch whisky brand can now be found at Mumbai airport and, later this month, Taipei Taoyuan airport.

Johnnie Walker House at Mumbai airport

Following the success of the Johnnie Walker House launches in downtown Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul and continuing the brand’s motto Keep Walking, the new Houses in Mumbai and Taipei airports are described as “multi-sensory embassies for luxury blended Scotch whisky, designed to educate and inspire travellers by providing them with a luxurious and engaging shopping experience that encapsulates the history, provenance and pioneering spirit of the Johnnie Walker brand”.

Travellers can immerse themselves in the history of the brand through a number of striking wall installations; and specialist brand ambassadors invite them on a sensorial journey to touch, taste and smell the elements that make up Johnnie Walker.

To celebrate the inauguration of the Houses, a limited-edition bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label has been created. The Johnnie Walker House Art Collection - Mumbai Edition will be exclusively available at Mumbai airport.

Doug Bagley, managing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “[These openings] reinforce our long-term commitment to providing travellers with a luxurious, unparalleled shopping experience in one of the fastest-growing retail channels worldwide.

“Both airports are key travel hubs, handling a combined 63m passengers a year, which make them perfect locations for Johnnie Walker Houses within our burgeoning industry.”

Doug Bagley speaking at the opening of  Johnnie Walker House Mumbai

Lawrence Law, global general manager of Johnnie Walker Houses, said: “I’m delighted to see the extension of the Johnnie Walker Houses into travel retail. It’s a move that highlights the esteem with which we hold our commercial travel retail partners. We believe it’s important to immerse consumers in our brand and these houses will provide them with the first luxury retail experience beyond our flagship Johnnie Walker Houses."

Johnnie Walker House Mumbai, in collaboration with DFS Group and Flemingo International, opened on 2 September 2014 in the departures concourse of Terminal 2 at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji airport. 

To celebrate the opening, an exclusive Johnnie Walker House Art Collection - Mumbai Edition has been created. The bottle shows a distinctive interpretation of the original Johnnie Walker journey from Scotland to India in 1883 and reflects the brand’s long heritage as an international brand.

Iconic luxury Scotch brand in India

Abanti Sankaranarayanan, managing director of Diageo India, said: “Johnnie Walker is the iconic luxury Scotch in India. In line with consumers' desire for unique experiences and evolving taste palates, we launch the Johnnie Walker House at Mumbai International airport.

“The new Johnnie Walker House will be home to some of the rarest and most luxurious blends from Diageo’s portfolio that are unrivalled in taste, heritage and craftsmanship.”

Johnnie Walker House Taiwan, launching in late September 2014, will be located in the departures concourse of Terminal 2 at Taipei Taoyuan airport. 

Johnnie Walker first traded in Taiwan in 1925, highlighting the brand’s long travel heritage.

Travellers can purchase a range of whisky collections, which are exclusively available at Johnnie Walker House Taiwan.

Innovation, service and experiences 

A spokesperson at Taiwanese travel retailer Everrich Duty Free said: “Our customers are looking for luxury shopping spaces that combine innovation, exceptional service and unique experiences. The Johnnie Walker House encapsulates all that we want to offer our distinguished clientele.”

Starting this month, all consumers will be able to access a copy of Johnnie Walker House Edit, a commissioned quarterly title dedicated to the art of good living that brings together curated content from world-class contributors, stylists, photographers and creative talent.

Inspired by the Johnnie Walker House philosophy of Living Luxury, the periodical’s first edition explores the subject of fame and its relationship with affluence across art, design, literature, music, drama and the epicurean world. The title is also available via Magzter.

Glen Deveron whisky debuts in Asia

Following its success in European travel retail, Bacardi-owned Scotch whisky brand Glen Deveron is now being launched in Asia Pacific at Kuala Lumpur International Airport - the first in Asia to stock the Highland single malt. 

A passenger enjoys Glen Deveron whisky at Kuala Lumpur airport

Bacardi has partnered with The Zon Duty Free store in the arrivals hall to create a promotion to greet incoming passengers as soon as they clear Customs in the arrivals zone of the new terminal.

Its prominent position means that an average of 600,000 passengers per month walk in front of the promotion, which features shopper tasting and “random acts of kindness”, the company says, where salespeople interact with passengers by handing out green apples, a nod to its sweet apple taste.

Apples on display at the Glen Deveron promotional area

The promotion ran until 31 August as a pop-up store concept to introduce Glen Deveron 16yo, 20yo and 30yo - all exclusive to travel retail.

Commenting on the activation, Irving Holmes Wong, regional director Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said: "Glen Deveron  is an amazing innovation and one that we have big ambitions for here in Asia Pacific. Across the region there is a strong opportunity for our brown spirits, where we are unlocking the potential of single malts. 

“More of today's travellers are entering the second stage of luxury where they use the knowledge they have on brands as a key purchase consideration. They are particularly attracted to the innovation in our brands and there’s a clear emergence where they seek to show their discernment by choosing less mainstream brands. 

"The appeal of our malts is that they are truly authentic, crafted alternatives that fit with these consumers’ own definition of self-identity and for those looking for something different from what the previous generation would have consumed."

Featuring strong visual identity on its gift packaging, Glen Deveron is proving popular for self-treat and gifting alike, according to the brand owner.

Ong Bok Siong, managing director of travel retail group DFZ KLIA, said: "We're really excited to have this promotion running in the early days of the new terminal. Its location right by security means there is strong disruption with arriving passengers who are interacting very positively with the brand and the promotional mechanic, which is driving footfall and conversion in the store itself."

F1 star Felipe Massa visits Barcelona airport

Formula 1 racing star Felipe Massa made his first ever personal appearance at an airport, signing autographs at Barcelona airport’s World Duty Free store on August 27.

Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa at Barcelona airport

Massa, who races for the Williams Martini Racing team, put in an appearance at the Terminal 1 store as part of a summer promotion that builds on the successful motor racing collaboration between Martini and Williams Racing. It was timed for the peak of interest in the F1 season in Europe, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at the legendary Monza circuit on September 7.

As well as meeting a Formula 1 star, travellers could enjoy a drink in a stylish tasting bar, offering the Martini range and Martini drinks. A summer dolce vita mood was captured with a terrazza-style cocktail bar offering a range of cocktails. The principal serve was the classic Martini Royale drink - a 50/50 blend of Martini Bianco, Martini Prosecco, lime wedges and ice, finished with a sprig of fresh mint.

Massa poses with a fan

Aude Rocourt, regional director Europe at Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said: “For us, the chance to genuinely surprise and delight travellers with this chance to meet one of the great heroes of the track is the icing on the cake for our Martini summer promotion. We wanted to do something really special in the stunning space of the World Duty Free store in Terminal 1 at Barcelona and are absolutely thrilled to have Felipe Massa with us today.”

The longstanding relationship between Martini and motorsport began in 1968 with the creation of Martini Racing, and the brand has since become synonymous with the glamour of lifestyle events around motor racing. The brand became the lead sponsor of Williams Martini Racing in March 2014, rekindling this glamorous heritage and lifestyle positioning.