Vietnamese luxury multi-brand fashion retailer Runway has set its sights on the country’s growing interest in high-end jewellery, bringing contemporary Italian brand Vhernier to Vietnam.
Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the Vhernier retail space inside Runway Rex Hotel faces the famous Nguyen Hue Street, neighbouring luxury houses including Burberry and Chanel. The opening event was attended by affluent customers and high-profile guests.
“As Vhernier is from Milan, the boutique showcases pure Milanese elegance through its minimalist shapes and soft colour palette, accented with touches of coral and eggshell,” Marta Moruzzi, collection merchandising manager and international development at Vhernier, told Inside Retail.
The store features Vhernier’s signature collections: Abbraccio, its iconic sculptural rings celebrating 30 years; Calla, which embodies the Maison’s distinctive design language; Tourbillon, known for rings with elegant overlapping bands; and Eclisse, a versatile collection spanning rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Founded in Valenza, Italy, in 1984 and headquartered in Milan, Vhernier was acquired by the Traglio family in 2001. Last year, Richemont acquired full ownership of Vhernier through a private transaction.
The brand is known for its distinctive modern jewellery designs, which draw inspiration from human body curves and modern sculpture. Their bold, sculptural pieces combine traditional precious metals and gems with unconventional materials like titanium, bronze, and ebony.
Every piece is handcrafted in Valenza, a city renowned for excellent jewellery making. The brand’s pieces are available through an exclusive network of stand-alone boutiques and high-end multi-brand stores, mainly in Europe and the US.
“Vhernier and Runway share the same love for beautiful creations, the same attitude towards design and a deep respect for craftsmanship,” Moruzzi said.
“Vhernier will benefit from Runway Vietnam’s deep knowledge of local customers: we know their preferences, tastes and attitude. Furthermore, we believe the maison will benefit from our willingness to invest in marketing activities, which will contribute to increasing the Vhernier brand awareness locally.”
Established in 2008, Runway Vietnam offers luxury clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, and interior designs. Its curated selection ranges from well-known to niche luxury fashion brands, including Marni, Rick Owens, Jil Sander, Jacquemus, Acne Studios, Courrèges and The Attico.
Italian architects design all Runway stores with a contemporary aesthetic, blending international design principles with modern Vietnam’s creative spirit through carefully curated spaces and visuals. The company currently operates five stores across the country.
“Vhernier has been in Southeast Asia for almost 10 years. They have decided to increase their presence in our region and more specifically in Vietnam considering the increasing local enthusiasm and appreciation for jewelry. Ho Chi Minh is a wonderful, dynamic, international city and Vietnamese have an innate appreciation of beauty,” Moruzzi added.
Vietnam is witnessing significant growth in its affluent population segment. Based on Knight Frank’s annual analysis, the nation’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals – those possessing assets valued at US$30 million or above – are anticipated to increase by 26 per cent, reaching more than 1500 by 2026, comparable to the expansion rates observed in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
This market evolution has attracted numerous prestigious timepiece and jewellery houses to establish their presence in the past year, with notable entries including Chaumet, Cartier, Girard-Perregaux, Franck Muller, Tudor, and Grand Seiko.
According to research company Imarc, the Vietnamese jewellery market size is projected to exhibit a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.59 per cent during 2024-2032. Several key factors are driving the market: rising disposable income, jewellery’s cultural significance, rapid urbanisation, tourism growth, increased gold investments and the rise of e-commerce and digital marketing.
Further reading: Movado Group’s Xavier Gauderlot on the watch giant’s latest JV in Southeast Asia.
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