Brunello Cucinelli Opens Casa Cucinelli in Shanghai

A maison in a 1927 Shanghai residence

Brunello Cucinelli has deepened its long-term commitment to the Chinese market with the opening of Casa Cucinelli in Shanghai. Rather than a conventional flagship store, the house has taken up residence inside Cao Zhai, a historic villa built in 1927 and designed by the architect Gu Daosheng. The setting places the brand’s retail and hospitality offer within one of the city’s most distinctive architectural landmarks.

The concept behind the project is a meeting of two sensibilities. The group describes Casa Cucinelli as a place where the inspiration drawn from the idea of home and Italian craftsmanship resonates with Chinese culture, and with Shanghai in particular, through a shared appreciation of beauty, hospitality and human relationships.

Three levels, one continuous story

The property is arranged over three floors and incorporates a winter garden that takes its cue from the traditional Shikumen courtyards characteristic of Shanghai. The restoration was carried out with care for the building’s original fabric: mosaics, parquet flooring, stained-glass windows and Art Deco decorative features have all been preserved, giving the interiors a sense of continuity with the past rather than a break from it.

Materials were chosen to support that same continuity. Botticino marble, wood flooring, brass inserts, clay, jute and wall coverings in textile and leather recur throughout the rooms, combining artisanal finishes with the existing architecture.

Reception, literature and quiet rooms

The ground floor is given over to reception spaces. At its heart is a library holding more than 500 volumes of Western and Chinese non-fiction and literature, alongside private meeting rooms and areas set aside for dining. These are rooms designed for conversation and time spent unhurried, in keeping with the house’s emphasis on hospitality.

Collections and made-to-measure services

The first and second floors are dedicated to the womenswear and menswear collections respectively. Both levels also host made-to-measure services: Sartoria Solomeo for the menswear line and Solomeo Atelier for presentations arranged for female clients. The building is crowned by a domed pavilion that looks out over the surrounding skyline.

A wider cultural push in China

The Shanghai opening was accompanied by the presentation of a film about the life of founder Brunello Cucinelli, titled The Gracious visionary, shown in Shanghai and Hong Kong on 24 October. The screenings underline how the company is pairing physical retail with storytelling in the region.

Nine-month revenues of €1.12 billion

The commercial picture behind the expansion is a strong one. For the first nine months of the year, Brunello Cucinelli reported revenues of €1.12 billion, an increase of 13.3 per cent at constant exchange rates and 10.2 per cent at current exchange rates. Third-quarter revenues came to €374.2 million, up 13.5 per cent at constant exchange rates.

Retail was the standout channel, with turnover of €741 million and growth of 19 per cent at constant exchange rates over the nine months. The channel grew in every quarter of the year, including 17 per cent at constant exchange rates in the third quarter, and posted double-digit increases across all regions.

Wholesale sales of €382.6 million confirmed a consistently solid performance, rising 4 per cent at constant exchange rates as of 30 September 2026, with growth of 7 per cent at constant exchange rates in the third quarter.

Forecasts revised upwards for 2026

The results have allowed the company to raise its expectations for 2026 once again. Revenue growth is now forecast at 12 per cent at constant exchange rates, an upward revision from the previously anticipated range of 10 to 11 per cent.

Why the Shanghai house matters

Casa Cucinelli brings together several threads that the brand has been developing for some time: a retail model that treats hospitality and culture as part of the offer, a respect for local architecture and craft, and a client experience built around made-to-measure service. Placing all of this inside a restored 1927 villa in Shanghai gives the group a distinctive platform in a market where heritage, setting and personal attention carry considerable weight.

For customers in the city, the house offers something closer to a private residence than a shop, with rooms to linger in, a library to browse and tailoring appointments on the upper floors. For the company, it is a statement of intent about how it intends to grow in China: carefully, and with an eye on the long term.