Louis Vuitton Entwines Its New Chinese Flagship Store With A Giant Tiger Tail

Crawling into the Lunar New Year on a prosperous note, Louis Vuitton opened its third maison (akin to a flagship) in mainland China on January 21, and visitors there are currently being greeted by a friendly but shy beast.

The store happens to be the fourth outlet in the booming Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li commercial development in Chengdu, which Jing Daily reports is the prime city that luxury brands have been setting their sights on to draw customers from emerging markets.

This is also the first time in history that the fashion house has incorporated the architecture of a historical building into a store’s design, according to Women’s Wear Daily. Located next to the centuries-old Daci Temple, the maison takes up two buildings, including the old Guangdong Hall. Beside it is a three-story retail store, spanning 16,000 square feet, which not only stocks Louis Vuitton wares but also showcases art and culture from Chinese creatives and artisans as part of a commitment to celebrate local culture.

In time for Chinese New Year, Louis Vuitton has wrapped the tail of an unseen tiger all over the façades and interiors of the two buildings, as well as the courtyard. The adorable feature is a nod at the zodiac animal of the year.

Although the luxury house has been pretty tame with its advertising of the furry new guest, in a bid to reach out to locals quietly, news outlets say the creature has been warmly welcomed by social media users in China.

[via Jing Daily and WWD, images via various sources]