To best describe Shanghai, I can borrow from an old Chinese proverb:
“countless rivers all run to the same sea”. It is inclusive.
Shanghai is a vast metropolis.
Tens of millions of people live and work in this city everyday.
It is beautiful, with a very long history.
But it is also a great place for China to show itself to the rest of the world. A window.
To get an idea of how fast China is developing in the future,
I think Shanghai’s current status is the most representative, in this sense.
It is an elegant, classy city.
If we look at all the top luxury brands,
they all have a strong presence in Shanghai, even with fashion shows.
The Shanghai Fashion Week is also up there with Paris, Milan, New York, Tokyo,
so we can really say Shanghai is strongly connected with fashion.
For Canali, being in Shanghai is a sign to all of China
that it truly wants to be present in the most competitive Chinese city,
bringing its clients not only its excellent products,
but also the experience of the values and culture behind them.
Chinese consumers like to have an expanded experience of shopping,
being able to also spend time with friends or family for a movie,
or enjoy an afternoon tea or dinner with colleagues.
We really focus on communicating our guests our own idea of ‘Italian-ness’, right from the window.
It is crucial to establish that cultural connection with our guests from the entry point.
Then, when our guests walk into our store, they deserve to have that immersive feeling
of being in a space of refined Italian culture: through the atmosphere, and through our Made in Italy products.
We have been, and always are, communicating the extraordinary craftsmanship that defines us,
and how we are constantly trying to reinterpret it
in the discreet, elegant way that defines our garments.
Our products give our guests the feel of a true, timeless classic.
Our mastery of fabric and the details are at the very heart of our philosophy.
Also, our presence in city like Shanghai really gives local businesses a chance
to better understand how male counsumer habits are evolving.
This is why I think that, together, Canali and Shanghai are a win-win situation. For everyone.