From fashion and dining to art, lifestyle, and robotics, Shanghai continues to attract international brands and concepts. Here are some of the city's global and Asian first stores.

First store in the world

Hirono

Address: Room L1-3, Central Plaza, No 381 Middle Huaihai Road, Huangpu district

Hirono, a character brand under Pop Mart, has opened its first store worldwide in Shanghai, tapping into the city's dynamic retail environment. The store's design uses reclaimed wood and concrete to create a space with contrasting textures and a sense of age. The interior incorporates elements inspired by traditional Chinese medicine cabinets, echoing Hirono's theme of emotional healing.

The store features installations, prints, and products inspired by Hirono's stories, all exploring the idea of emotional resonance in everyday life. Visitors can browse a selection of distressed, outdoor-inspired fashion and lifestyle items, including clothing, accessories, and collectibles.

Ruyi

Address: Room B10, The Peninsula Shanghai, No 31 East Zhongshan Road Number One, Huangpu district

Founded by Desmond Chang in 2017, Ruyi is a premium tableware brand inspired by Eastern philosophy and traditional culture. Its first global store was designed by renowned Asian interior designer Andre Fu.

At the heart of the store is the Counter of Curiosity, where visitors are encouraged to interact directly with the tableware. Unlike traditional displays, this counter allows customers to touch the products, explore the texture and sheen of their glazes, and combine pieces according to their preferences.

Furla Cafe

Address: 1F, Guohua Financial Center, No 200 Xinjian Road, Hongkou district

Italian fashion brand Furla has expanded its lifestyle offerings by opening its first Furla Cafe worldwide in Shanghai. The cafe follows the July 2025 debut of Furla's first Furla Casa lifestyle experience center at the same location.

The cafe continues Furla Casa's signature arched design, inspired by Bologna's arcades, the Italian city where Furla was founded.

The menu offers options throughout the day, from Italian espresso and classic red velvet cake to pasta dishes.

First store in Asia

Staple

Address: No 538 Middle Huaihai Road, Huangpu district

Founded in 1997 by designer Jeff Staple, the New York streetwear brand Staple has become iconic for its distinctive pigeon logo, inspired by one of the city's most ubiquitous birds.

The Shanghai store marks Staple's first location outside of New York. The storefront features a bright pink perforated metal installation shaped like pigeon feet, with a large pigeon appearing to break through the metal structure. Inside, the brand's archive area uses reclaimed wood and metal mesh to create a pigeon-house-inspired display, complemented by scaffolding structures that reference New York's streetscape.

The main retail area is designed for flexibility. Clothing is displayed against a scaffolding structure reminiscent of New York, while a weathered brick wall behind it evokes the texture of old Shanghai residences. The display wall features angled warm-gray panels inspired by a pigeon's wide field of vision, along with adjustable shelves for T-shirts, shoes, hats, and accessories.

Kirillitsa

Address: Room A03, 5F, No 201 Hankou Road, Huangpu district

Named after the Cyrillic alphabet, Kirillitsa draws on Slavic culture in both its name and interior design. The restaurant uses a neutral palette accented with touches of red, reflecting notions of beauty and strength in Russian culture.

Evgeny Vikentiev, a Michelin-starred chef from Russia, employs a precise, contemporary approach to reinterpret traditional Russian cuisine. The menu traces Russian flavors from the 3rd to the 20th century, featuring dishes such as sturgeon caviar and fermented cabbage with cranberries, as well as an Olivier salad made with king crab and Siberian dumplings.

Fotografiska

Address: No 127 Guangfu Road, Jing'an district

Fotografiska, founded in Stockholm, Sweden, is an international hub for contemporary photography, art, and culture. Its Shanghai location marks the brand's first venue in Asia.

Situated along Suzhou Creek, the photography center spans more than 4,600 square meters and showcases photography from around the world, with a particular focus on artists from China and other parts of Asia.

The center remains open until 11 pm daily. It regularly hosts events such as Wednesday jazz and cocktail nights and late-night museum programs.

Unitree Robotics embodied intelligence experience store

Address: 2F, Jiuguang Department Store, No 1618 West Nanjing Road, Jing'an district

The store, spanning more than 100 sq m, provides a full experience with static product displays, interactive demo zones, and dedicated sections for accessories and related items. It features the G1 and R1 humanoid robots along with the As2 and Go2 quadruped robots.

During demonstrations, visitors can watch the robot dogs in action as they walk across the floor, climb slopes, turn, and jump. Meanwhile, the humanoid robots perform hand gestures and other intricate movements to captivate audiences. The store has also attracted families and children eager to experience the technology firsthand.

House of Laderach

Address: West Bund Central Phase 2 area, No 350 Ruining Road, Xuhui district

Swiss chocolate brand Laderach, founded by Rudolf Laderach in 1962, has recently expanded its presence by opening the House of Laderach in Shanghai. The family-owned company, now in its third generation, is known for its commitment to producing freshly made chocolate with pure cocoa butter.

The brand sources its ingredients through dedicated partnerships with suppliers worldwide. It procures hazelnuts from Piedmont, Italy; pistachios from the Middle East; almonds from California; and dried fruit from Europe and North America.

Equiline

Address: 1F-2F, Building A, No 68 Guanghua Road, Minhang district

Italian equestrian brand Equiline has opened its first store in Asia, in Shanghai's Minhang district. The new two-story, 700-sq-m store blends the industrial character of a former factory with design elements inspired by European equestrian culture.

The store displays professional riding equipment and apparel, such as saddles, bridles, saddle pads, and horse leg wraps. A life-size horse model on show demonstrates how the equipment is used and worn. The store showcases saddles developed in collaboration with Olympic champion Nick Skelton, designed to support both rider performance and the horse's back.

A spiral staircase leads to the second floor, where the interior design incorporates fiber sand, a material commonly used in equestrian arenas. This floor also features a selection of horse and riding products, along with a dedicated customization area.

The store was named a Gold Winner in the 2025 MUSE Design Awards.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and the stores mentioned above