Balenciaga Unveils Redesigned Flagship Store in Beijing

The notion that bigger stores automatically lead to better business may not hold true in every market, but it’s clear that China is a key destination for Balenciaga. In just one week, the brand opened two large flagship stores, signaling its growing ambitions and excitement for the Chinese market.

On December 18, Balenciaga’s newly redesigned flagship store at Sanlitun Taikoo Li in Beijing officially reopened. The store spans four floors and a total of 1,204 square meters, making it the largest Balenciaga boutique in China, surpassing the recently opened flagship at Shanghai Xintiandi Taikoo Hui.

The store's façade takes inspiration from early 20th-century Beijing office buildings, with a curtain wall design featuring transparent glass and semi-transparent weathered mesh layers. The newly renovated interior, with its combination of modern and industrial elements, reflects the brand’s commitment to respecting the original building structure while minimizing the use of new materials, in line with Balenciaga’s sustainability ethos.

A 13-meter-high atrium connects all four floors, and the central staircase is made of concrete and metal, with artificial skylights adding to the airy feel. The space contrasts rough concrete walls with sleek metal floors and extruded aluminum shelving, creating a tactile mix of rough and smooth textures. Recycled leather sofas and exposed ceiling grids complement the store’s minimalist industrial style, while the private salon on the top floor, inspired by Balenciaga's Paris haute couture boutique, offers a VIP experience with its dark glass partitions and intimate design.

In celebration of the store's reopening, Balenciaga is showcasing eight iconic fashion looks—four sets of pieces created by Cristóbal Balenciaga and Demna. These include evening gowns from 1959 and 2022, a skirt suit from 1960 and a carnation-print dress from 2017, dresses from 1960 and 2021 featuring embroidery inspired by a traditional Spanish shawl, and black silk dresses from 1962 and 2024. These looks were previously displayed at the “The Subtleties of a Dialogue” exhibition in Paris this past September, organized by Kering Group to mark European Heritage Days 2024.

The store will also feature six limited-edition items, alongside new collections of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, jewelry, eyewear, and accessories. In line with the Shanghai flagship, the Beijing store will offer the exclusive Metalheads T-shirt from Balenciaga’s Paris haute couture boutique, complete with a custom Apple Vision device to provide customers with a fully immersive fashion show experience.