With the opening of the first Louis Vuitton Maison in Italy on 29th January 2012, the world renowned trunk and luggage-maker marks a major achievement in its history.

Louis Vuitton’s 14th Maison is called Roma Etoile. It was designed by the architect Peter Marino who renovated this former Cinema Corso in a modern artistic way.

The heart of the shop is structured around a monumental staircase, a tribute to Rome’s Baroque architecture.

Dolce & Gabbana on Wednesday apologised to the people of Hong Kong for allegedly discriminating against them in favour of wealthy mainland shoppers.

The company’s flagship Hong Kong store has been the focus of protests and online rage after reports that a security guard told locals they were not allowed to take photographs but mainlanders and foreigners were.

Locals accused the fashion house of “mainlandism” and started a Facebook page protesting against the store’s abuse of their rights.

For a city that prides itself on being one of the world’s great shopping destinations, 2011 has been a stellar year for Hong Kong.

Major brands such as Apple and Hogan have already created much fanfare with the opening of flagship and a concept store here, respectively.

And the shopping landscape was extended further Tuesday as the Harvey Nichols brand welcomed shoppers into its 83,000-square-foot (7710 sq m] flagship in the city’s Pacific Place mall, set in the Admiralty district.

Mulberry has opened its largest and third retail location in New York and for the first time will offer its entire collection in-store in the United States.

Mulberry’s third New York location, and its second in the SoHo district, is on Spring Street. The new location is 5,000 square feet and opened Sept. 6.

The space has white pillars, dark reclaimed wood flooring and high tin ceilings, according to a report from Women’s Wear Daily.

Italian brand Roberto Cavalli has announced that it will open its first Japan flagship store in September, with the designer behind the label to visit Tokyo to mark the opening of the boutique in early November.

The store is located in the city’s upmarket Aoyama district and will also be the first directly owned and managed Roberto Cavalli boutique in Asia.

“Tokyo is on the world’s stage of fashion, glamour and sophistication,” said Cavalli. “This is a city of energy and inspiration.

The shopping landscape in Hong Kong is about to be expanded once again with news that luxury brand Burberry plans to open its Asian flagship store in the city.

Burberry will take up residence over two floors and 21,000 square (1950 sq m) feet of space and that the new store will open in the second half of 2012.

It will be the British retail giant’s largest store in the region and the second largest in the world, behind its 57th Street, New York outlet which spans 24,000 square feet.