Money
Luxury furniture about to become capital's next big status symbol
By Lu Chang (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-06 07:57
 |
Large Medium Small |
|
A man places price tags for a sofa set that is designed to match the interior of a Lamborghini. Wang Jing / China daily |
As Gucci, LV, Chanel and other top brands continue to appeal to Chinese luxury consumers, designer furniture is set to become the next status symbol of China's super rich.
With floor space of over 30,000 sq m, GOHO, an international furniture center, home to 374 global luxury brands, opened in Easy Home, a top home and furniture chain in Beijing, on April 3.
Lamborghini, a newly opened Italian store in GOHO, is not only synonymous with cars but also offers a vast range of home furniture products.
Labeled "Made in Italy" and modeled by world famous designers, Lamborghini furniture costs a fortune. A complete bedroom set designed by Paolo Gucci, one of the world's most prominent names in the high fashion industry, costs 505,778 yuan, including bedside lamps, nightstands, and a couch.
"Paolo Gucci is a fashion designer who put lots of artistic elements and his own style into the set. At some point, it can be considered a piece of art or at least, a valuable collection," said Qin Han, a sales manager from Classic Furniture, which sells Lamborghini furniture.
"Each set of our furniture costs more than 300,000 yuan and it is all unique. People want to buy it because it is a symbol of wealth and high social status," he said.
In addition to Lamborghini products, other world-famous brands like B & B, Boffi, Joop!, Catari and Ligne roset are also tapping into the interior decoration and furniture markets.
"Antoni Citterio and Philippe Starck, who remodeled Lan Club on Chang'an Avenue, are our chief designers. Italian design is very popular among Chinese consumers because it is recognized for its elegant taste," the owner of B & B told METRO.
"I'm sure a man who drives a Mercedes Benz will definitely not decorate his home with 'Made in China' furniture. This doesn't mean 'Made in China' has a low reputation, it is only because rich people pursue high quality and stylish tastes. As furniture luxury brands throng into the Chinese market, high-end furniture brands become a need of China's wealthy," said Xing Zhengqiang, an international business department manager of Easy Home, on Monday.
The 2010 Hurun Report, released on April 1, states there were 9,400 people or families with wealth of more than 100 million yuan in Beijing. The number on the Chinese mainland was 55,000.
