Nov. 29 - Prada proceeds with its expansion plan in China. Its Miu Miu brand has opened its first flagship store in the heart of Beijing, in the Sanlitun Village - a prestigious shopping center. In line with Miu Miu’s style, the newly opened Beijing store reflects the avant-garde spirit of the brand. The store, designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, stands out for its aesthetic appeal and grandeur: a total of 850 m2 on two levels, enclosed in a four-story building. The outside window is characterized by a careful arrangement of furniture, decorated with curtains coated in metallic shades and matte gold. Inside, the area has been designed to provide a bright "open space," where classic Miu Miu furniture - counters and display cases - are interspersed with shelves covered in damask, prepared specifically for this store.

PRADA: AN ITALIAN GIANT SINCE 1913

Prada was founded in Milan in 1913 by Mario Prada, Miuccia Prada's grandfather. The group was appointed in 1919 as the official supplier to the Italian Royal Family. Today, it owns 11 production facilities (10 in Italy and 1 in the UK) and different laboratories for research and development all over the world. The group's products are sold in more than 70 countries and - in addition to a selection of luxury department stores and multi-brand stores – it owns a distribution network of 388 (as at 31 January 2012) directly managed stores, a strongpoint in the international growth of the brand.