Living in Shanghai, one is never lacking excitement. The city continually attracts new brands and fresh talent so there's always something new to discover.
From a multipurpose lifestyle space with the mark of trendmaker Hypebeast to a bread pop-up by a Chinese superstar, but not forgetting the first ever Louis Vuitton chocolate store in China, these new openings capture all facets of a life well-lived.
1
UNiTN
📍Rockbund, 185 Yuanmingyuan Road, Level B1-2, Huangpu
⏰ Daily, 11 AM - 9 PM
There are new faces in Rockbund's century-old Lanxin Building. Among them is UNiTN, is collaboration with Hypebeast.
For those of you living under a rock, Hypebeast is a Hong Kong-listed company that, for many youth, is the very definition of cool. What began as a blog by sneakerhead Kevin Ma has exploded into one of the biggest players in streetwear.
The name "UNiTN" plays on the idea of individual units, as the brand aims to accommodate diverse lifestyles while embracing individuality.
Subdivided into different units, the three-storied space sees threads by different brands on the first and second floors, and a café serving light meals and coffee on the first floor.
TIME OUT TIP: Tennis fans should swing by soon to catch "Classics Define the Future," a special exhibition celebrating Wilson's 110th anniversary.
2
Hakusan Megane
📍 Zhangyuan, 200 Maoming North Road, Jing'an
⏰ Daily, 10 AM - 10 PM
Hakusan Megane, a 141-year-old Japanese pioneer in fine eyewear turned modern eyewear manufacturer, has moved into the historical building called Zhangyuan on Maoming North Road.
The store layout derives inspiration from vinyl record collections, which makes for a unique way of displaying its spectacles and sunglasses.
Famous fans of the brand, which some deem one of Japan's national treasures, include John Lennon, Kimura Takuya, Sakamoto Ryuichi, and Takenaka Naoto, just to name a few.
Adhering to the idea that "less is more," the brand is synonymous with many evergreen styles of eyewear. Think gold-plated parts and classic frame shapes that look great when paired with 'American fashion' or retro outfits.
Photos by Edward Shi via Baishan Optical Shop's official Weibo
3
DT.18 Pop-Up
📍 D.Desirable, 2 Anfu Road, Lane 298
⏰ Daily, 11 AM - 8 PM
🗓️ Pop-up length: Until September 31, 2024
As seen in our article on bakery trends that have found success in Shanghai, bread is hot, and counting calories is not.
Actor and heartthrob Dylan Wang or Wang Hedi — of Meteor Garden and Love Between Fairy and Devil fame — has initiated a bakery pop-up called DT.18.
The 25-year-old Chinese superstar has been exploring new terrain, going from actor to director, diving into fashion design, and even starting bakery businesses, as seen here.
The pop-up is located right next to Wang's fashion boutique D.Desirable, which boasts a coveted postcode on Anfu Road.
D̀TOAST, the pop-up's signature cubed bread, is baked fresh daily, and food preservation packets are placed in the individual packaging.
Said bread contains all-natural ingredients with zero artificial colouring or additives, and adheres to the traditional and natural method of slow fermentation.
TIME OUT TIP: We really enjoyed the soft and fragrant purple sweet potato puree and matcha red bean toast from the pop-up.
The pop-up has also teamed up with trendy brands like Revenge, Bubble Mart, and ROBBiART, so visitors have other fun distractions. Check out this collision of diverse trendy cultures!
4
Le Parlor
📍 629 Zhongjiang Road, Putuo
⏰ Daily, 9 AM - 6 PM
If you enjoyed our article on vintage and thrift stores, head on over to Imuse Barber Shop on Tai'an Road. Hop inside this vintage-style barber, which feels like a small museum, to pour over collectibles from the 1890s to the 1960s that were salvaged from barber shops that have since shuttered their doors.
Providing haircuts, shaves, facial treatments, and retro styling, Imuse Barber now offers coffee too. Its new attached café called Le Parlor joins the ranks of multipurpose establishments tapping into the trendy coffee scene.
Decorwise, Le Parlor caters to the craze for 'antique, European-style' cafés — think Gregorius, as featured in our staff picks for favourite cafés.
Walking into Le Parlor feels like stepping into a European living space from a past century. Sculptures, oil paintings, furniture, tableware, and a gramophone, along with the staff's neat attire and the well-dressed coffee patrons all exude aspirational refinement.
Whether on a sunny day or a rainy one, Le Parlor provides a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The Slim Jim espresso machine (kind of rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?) built by Kees Van Der Westen in the Netherlands and knowledgeable baristas bring out the best in the coffee beans, and the desserts, such as the Chocolate Coluli and Kouign'amann are decadent.
Le Parlor will occasionally present special exhibitions, such as the current Cold Extraction exhibition of prints, to enrich the customer experience.
Illustration © Le Parlor
5
Louis Vuitton
Chocolate Boutique
📍 Qiantan Taikoo Li and the adjacent Central Park West
⏰ Daily, 8 AM - 4:30 PM
China recently welcomed its first ever Louis Vuitton chocolate boutique in Shanghai — inside Taikoo Li Qiantan, to be specific — following locations in Paris, Courchevel, and Singapore.
Unsurprisingly for a luxury brand that's synonymous with its Damier Ebene pattern, the shape of the chocolate boutique is inspired by said monogram.
Chocolatier Maxime Frédéric draws inspiration from Louis Vuitton's classic motifs to turn raw ingredients into creative chocolate pieces that are more art than confectionary.
Not only are Frédéric's chocolate items rich and silky in texture, but his flavour combinations are also unique.
His chocolate sculptures modelled after Louis Vuitton's mascot Vivienne Doudou, LV prints, Damier checkerboards, et cerera are incredibly impressive.
6
C.P. Company
📍 Réel Mall, 1601 Nanjing West Road, 2/F, Room 205, Jing'an
⏰ Daily, 10 AM - 10 PM
No wonder fashionistas gravitate towards Shanghai — it's usually the first (and often the only) city where many international brands open their first China-based store.
Recently, Réel Mall welcomed C.P. Company, the Italian 'originator' of urban sportswear.
Celebs who have been spotted repping C.P. Company include the likes of rapper Lay Zhang, actor Lin Gengxin and Korean stars such as Suga of BTS and actress Lee Hye-in.
The brand, which is over 50 years old, was founded by Massimo Osti, the internationally recognised 'godfather of urban sportswear,' in Bologna, Italy.
The past decades have seen the brand experimenting with new high-performance fabrics and garment dyeing processes as part of its quest for continuous exploration.
Diverse in style and function, C.P. Company's designs have found use beyond sports, appearing in the military industry and the office workspace.
C.P. Company's first store in Shanghai is in line with the brand's signature style: the functional layout meets minimalism and modern aesthetics.
Last but not least, goggles, which the brand is known for, can be seen everywhere. Google 'Goggle jacket' to learn more about one of their signature products, which is quite pioneering.
Original article by: Naomi Yu
Adapted by: Sammi Sowerby
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All images were sourced via the respective brands. This article is not to be replicated without prior consent.
