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.

Luxury brand Montblanc, is opening one of the worldʼs most innovative concept stores, with the launch of its four-storey interactive Boutique in Sanlitun, Beijing.

This is the largest Montblanc Boutique anywhere in the world and by far the brandʼs most audacious, creative and technologically interactive concept store yet.

Visitors are invited to take an audio-operated guided tour through the experience upon arrival, which is delivered via a handheld electronic device.

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.

Christian Louboutin, whose red-soled footwear is coveted by women worldwide, is to open his first US boutique for men in New York next spring.

News of the 1,035-sqf shop in the Meatpacking District comes after the brand opened his first boutique dedicated to men’s shoes last September in Paris.

“The men’s shoes only represent a small portion of the business at present but we think it has huge potential for the future,” Alexis Mourot, CEO for the brand, said.

Italian fashion house Versace recently opened its first boutique in Milan dedicated to kids’ line Young Versace, geared toward boys and girls from 0 to 12 years old.

Young Versace is located on the ground floor of the company’s headquarters on Via Borgospesso and is quite small at 538 square feet.

The store will offer the line’s inaugural Spring 2012 collection, which includes zipper-detailed tops, studded hoodies and skirts with the brand’s key motif.

Luxury Swiss retail giant Richemont, owner of such brands as Cartier, Piaget and Jaeger-LeCoultre, is to open the world’s largest shop for luxury watches in Paris.

Business Montres quoted an internal memo saying a three-storey 2,200 square metre (24,000 square foot) shop would open early 2013.

The shop would take over the premises of the landmark Old England shop near the Place Vendome, famous for its luxury watch shops and hugely popular with Middle Eastern and Asian tourists, in particular Chinese.