H&M opened the doors of its new three-storey flagship on one of the most famous avenues in the world; the Champs-Elysees. The store features an exclusive facade and an interior completely inspired by Paris. This new French flagship is a union between the worlds of fashion and architectural design.
"We are thrilled to open this amazing store and to be able to offer the world the ultimate shopping experience where the latest fashion trends and timeless architecture meet", said Thomas Lourenco, Country Manager of France.
The shopping fervour in-store stemmed from a wave of excitement that kick-started two days before at a fabulous Paris fashion week party, where guests could preview the store and the latest H&M fashions, which provided the ultimate fanfare to H&M's long awaited arrival at this mythical address.
Once inside the vision achieved by Jean Nouvel and H&M was revealed - a jaw dropping 2800 square meters, three level store that was created to stand the test of time and act as a part of the history of Champs-Elysees and give the impression that it had always been there.
The idea behind the masterpiece is that of merging the traditional white limestone of Paris with an industrial dark contrast that can be seen in the store fixtures and lighting. The focal point of the store is visible from outside and within in the 11 LED screens that create a moving story from the sidewalk, which interacts with and amazes you all at the same time.
This opening marks the 140th store in France and the 11th store in Paris proper. Expansion will continue to be a focus for France for 2011 with stores planned for both new and existing cities. The new Champs-Elysees H&M store is situated at 88 avenue des Champs-Elysees.
Photos: Luc Boegly