MANILA, Philippines - Last week I was invited to the opening of Louis Vuitton’s Canton Road, Kowloon boutique, which is the second largest LV store after its Paris shop.
Over 130 journalists from around the world were invited to the opening. From the Philippines were Anna Sobrepeña (Lifestyle Asia), Vince Uy (Preview), Tanya Lara (Philippine Star) and myself representing this newspaper and the Philippine Tatler. We were billeted at the Four Seasons Hotel and had dinner at Cipriani.
The next day was a big day as the LV crew planned an “Ultimate Quest” event (an “Amazing Race”-like type of race) for which we had to get up at 7:30 in the morning. The teams were divided into groups, representing LV’s iconic bags. The Philippine team was joined by a bunch of nice but quiet girls from Taiwan and we were called the Bucket Team.
At about 9 a.m., Dinesh Kandiah, LV Asia PR director, explained the mechanics of the race. He also announced that there was going to be a prize for the winner. To win, a team had to score points by answering questions on LV history or win activities at each stop.
We all rushed out of the hotel, hopped on to buses to get to our first stop. We went to the Krug room (a private room inside the Chinnery restaurant, one of only four in the world) at the Mandarin Oriental and had a short discovery on the niche brand. Then we were off to the Kowloon side aboard the Aqua Luna (a Chinese junk used for events) and was in for a surprise when we were given foot reflexology.
Then off to the LV store at The Peninsula (the first LV boutique on the island where the art of packing demonstration took place), and ended at the Man Mo Temple along Hollywood Road in Central. By 12:30 we were done and went to Lumiere restaurant at the IFC Mall for lunch.
To make a long story short, when it came to the awarding of prizes, the Bucket Team of the Philippines and Taiwan won LV Keepall bags. To say that we were elated is an understatement.
In the evening we had cocktails at the Vuitton star ferry, a ferry that was painted with the LV logo and icons. We found out that LV had to ask the HK government permission to paint the ferry and were allowed to do so only for six days. (Of course, LV had to repaint the ferry back to its original color.) Then off we went to the launch of the Marc Jacobs-designed “Emprise” watch at the Watermark.
Giant tent
The next day was the re-launch of the Landmark and launch of the Canton Road boutiques. I will give you the blow-by-blow next week.
We had time to prepare for the party and to have dinner at the hotel. We were driven to Western Kowloon at an undisclosed location, while other guests, celebrities and VIPs had to go to the Canton Road store where they were likewise transported to the same location.
We walked to a gigantic tent where images of the Vuitton trunk as well as LV’s present ad campaigns, featuring supermodels and the legendary music icon Keith Richards, were projected as well.
As one entered the massive hall, one was amazed at the cornucopia of visually stimulating décor―gold monogram logos from floor to ceiling (measuring 10 meters), two VIP areas, one for LV executives and the other for celebrities and socialites; an eight-meter bar facing a large LV vintage signature logo whose backdrop was the harbor; a 40-foot stage with Louis Vuitton sign.
Here are other facts from the event: They prepared 28,000 canapés and 2,050 magnum-size bottles of Veuve Clicqueot champagne.
Moreover, 60 bottles of Belvedere Vodka were used to produce 900 Gold LV signature cocktails, created by New York mixologist Joseph Boroski.
Asian celebrities
Celebrities from all over Asia came in full force. I spotted Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Hide Nakata as well as supermodel Eva Herzigova.
From the Philippines, making every head turn (men and women alike) was statuesque beauty Ruffa Gutierrez. She wore a colorful tunic gown with jewel-encrusted collar designed by Jun Escario. An executive of Lane Crawford even came up to her and asked if he could get the designer’s name and number.
The room, which was filled with about 2,000 persons, came to a stop once the entertainment started. The opening act was a French burlesque number, followed by a ballet and then a hip-hop/modern contemporary dance.
Kanye West
Just when you thought that was it, Kanye West made the crowd go even wilder and reach fever-pitch proportions.
After he sang, he was rushed to the VIP section where Vince Uy and LV’s top asset in Manila, Pam Picazo, were able to secure photographs with him.
To say that Louis Vuitton knows how to throw a party is an understatement. When I spoke to my somewhat jaded Hong Kong friends, who attend grand events like this almost every month (Chanel was having an opening as well, with Karl Lagerfeld and Zaha Hadid as stellar draws), they said LV’s was truly spectacular and something that was surely hard to be surpassed.
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