DFS officially opens T Galleria in Cambodia

By Kevin Rozario |

DFS Angkor outside

The store exterior.

Duty free and travel retailer, DFS Group, yesterday officially opened its first Cambodian store: the T Galleria by DFS in Siem Reap, the resort town and provincial capital close to the ancient temple of Angkor Wat which is a world heritage site.

The store is the retailer’s 17th T Galleria globally and will be followed by its entry into Europe later this year with the opening of T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS in Venice, Italy in October.

The gala had more than 300 guests in attendance including DFS Group’s Chairman and CEO, Philippe Schaus, and DFS Group Co-founder and other key shareholder aside of LVMH, Robert Miller. Government officials were also present:  Cambodia’s Senior Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth, and Minister of Tourism Thong Khon.

Schaus (centre left), and Miller (centre right) speaking to VIPs yesterday.

Schaus (centre right), and Miller (centre left) speaking to VIPs yesterday.

Schaus says that the store “marks a new era in the history of DFS” adding: “We strive to create shopping experiences that will surprise and delight our customers, while designing our stores in a way that celebrates all that the destination has to offer.”

The event began with a ribbon cutting ceremony where members of DFS Group’s senior leadership team, brand partners, Loyal T members, and government officials gathered to toast the opening. Traditional Cambodian Apsara hostesses then led guests through the two-story store, where attendees were entertained with traditional cultural performances and demonstrations from Cambodia’s leading craftsmen.

LARGEST DUTY FREE LUXURY OUTLET

At 8,000sq m, the new T Galleria is the largest duty free luxury department store in Cambodia, claims DFS, and offers travellers “an integrated retail, hospitality and leisure experience”. As previously reported, some 170 brands are available across all the main categories of fashion/accessories, watches and jewellery, wines and spirits, beauty, as well as a selection of locally-handcrafted artisan products.

Cutting the ribbon.

Cutting the ribbon were a host of dignitaries.

The artisanal products are designed and produced locally by over 30 Cambodian artists’ workshops, many of whose techniques are passed on through the generations. Angkor Artwork, a Siem Reap-based design studio, focuses on producing fine artwork created using traditional vegetal lacquer, natural colour, gilding and polychrome techniques. Golden Silk, one of the last fully-integrated silk producers in the world, weaves silk spun from the indigenous Cambodian silk worm.

The store’s vaulted atrium.

The store’s vaulted atrium.

The store design reflects the artistic heritage of Siem Reap, incorporating traditional Khmer motifs and carvings. Craftsmen from Artisans d’Angkor, a socially-conscious business aimed at revitalizing Cambodia’s traditional crafts, carved bas-relief panels for columns within the store depicting motifs found in the Bayon and Angkor Thom temples.

Intricately patterned wall screens and floor tiles also evoke local architecture and a large art installation inspired by the warm hues of Buddhist monks’ robes is suspended above the store’s vaulted atrium.

In addition to handcrafted products, the Galleria has over 130 international marques including leading watches and jewellery brands: Bulgari, Cartier and Tiffany & Co; international fashion brands: Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Fendi, Gucci and Saint Laurent; and more than 30 beauty brands including Clé de Peau Beauté, Dior, Estée Lauder and Giorgio Armani.

DFS used the opening event to announce its sponsorship of several non-profit organisations that help underserved populations in Cambodia. Schaus said “we intend to do all that we can to help Cambodian people to thrive” as he presented a donation cheque to Kuma Cambodia, whose mission is to reduce poverty through the provision of education, healthcare and nutrition to vulnerable children.

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