Goldwin Inc.(Headquarters:Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Takao Watanabe)opened the fourth overseas store for its original “Goldwin” brand in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, mainland China, on Friday, August 2, 2024.
With stores already in San Francisco (USA), Munich (Germany) and Beijing (mainland China), Goldwin Chengdu opened the fourth overseas store for the Goldwin brand in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Known for its large population and recent development in the manufacturing and IT industries, Chengdu is an emerging economic center. Jinjiang District, where the new store is located, is a sophisticated urban area that attracts many tourists and locals. With the opening of Goldwin Chengdu, the company aims to accelerate its expansion in mainland China and strengthen its local presence.
■Design concept
Goldwin Beijing’s design is based on the concept of “layered chi,” combining Goldwin’s accumulated knowledge (chiken) with the beauty of geological strata (chiso) born of eon-spanning natural processes. Goldwin Chengdu has a new design that takes the Beijing store as both a benchmark and a starting point for further explorations in form.
Panels of porous, warmly textured Oya stone symbolizing the Japanese landscape and aesthetic are arranged into regular patterns extending across the walls. This approach is compatible with a diverse range of spaces while still imparting a distinctive texture to each. By contrast, the store’s inner spaces are appointed in light, fibrous Chinese paulownia wood. The high-ceilinged front room with walls of Oya stone functions as a public space, drawing the outside in, while the gentler textures of paulownia in the low-ceilinged inner spaces create a more intimate atmosphere conducive to discussion.
Inspired by the “Goldwin stools,” each of which is an abstraction of the Goldwin logo made from a single board of timber, Goldwin’s distinctive shapes were also incorporated into the design of various furnishings in the space, including display stands, benches, and staggered vertical louvers.
■Goldwin Chengdu Details
Store Name: Goldwin Chengdu
Location: Store No. 2223, 2nd Floor, Building 16, Chengdu Taikoo Li, No. 8 Zhongshamao Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Store Size: Approx. 100 m²
Product Range: The store will carry all categories of the Goldwin brand, including ski, outdoor, athletic, lifestyle wear, accessories, and bags.
WeChat Account: @Goldwin
Weibo Account: @Goldwin_official
Xiaohongshu Account: @Goldwin
Store Design：New Material Research Laboratory (Shinsoken)
New Material Research Laboratory is an architectural firm co-founded by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto and architect Tomoyuki Sakakida in 2008. Notwithstanding its name, New Material Research Laboratory examines materials from ancient and medieval times and focuses its activities on reinterpreting and reimagining the use of these materials in the present. Taking a stand against today’s standardized and superficial construction materials, they daringly explore the architectural possibilities of traditional materials that are difficult to handle, as well as preserving and improving on the elaborate skills and knowledge of expert artisans.
Hiroshi Sugimoto and Tomoyuki Sakakida are well aware of the significance of their advanced challenge and they continue to conceive bold architectural design incorporating traditional materials while eschewing current architectural trends.
■ Goldwin 500 Project
In April 2024, Goldwin announced the Goldwin 500 project, thereby positioning the Goldwin brand as its core goal of increasing global sales to 50 billion yen in 10 years by 2033. This new initiative aims to accelerate global business development and establish the brand as a premium label that pursues both sports and fashion while rooted in Japanese aesthetics. The project focuses on increasing brand value and recognition worldwide while expanding business primarily in East Asia. For more details on the Goldwin 500 project, please refer to the medium-term five-year management plan announced in July 2024.
Detailed Mid-Term Five-Year Management Plan Can Be Found Here:
First Part: https://ssl4.eir-parts.net/doc/8111/ir_material_for_fiscal_ym/158601/00.pdf
Second Part: https://ssl4.eir-parts.net/doc/8111/ir_material_for_fiscal_ym/158603/00.pdf
Goldwin’s Overseas Market Expansion to Date
Since 2019, Goldwin has opened direct stores in the USA, Germany, and mainland China. Through marketing collaborations with key overseas partners, joint projects, and expansions into select shops, Goldwin has increased its recognition in overseas markets and gained a global fan base. The flagship store, Goldwin Beijing, opened in 2021 and has continued to grow as one of the most successful stores among Goldwin’s seven domestic and international direct stores.
November 2019: Opened first overseas store in the USA, Goldwin San Francisco
October 2020: Opened first European store in Germany, Goldwin Munich
December 2021: Opened first store in mainland China, Goldwin Beijing
April 2024: Established Goldwin (Suzhou) Trading Co., Ltd., a joint venture (consolidated subsidiary), to expand the Goldwin brand’s business.