Icicle parent company opens landmark ‘Garden Store’ in Shanghai
ICCF Group, the Shanghai and Paris-based fashion company that owns Icicle and Carven, recently launched its first garden-themed retail project in downtown Shanghai. This ambitious ICCF Garden Store project, located at the heart of Shanghai’s historical downtown, took three years to complete and promises to be a beacon of sustainability and innovation in retail.
Surrounded by spectacular trees, the Garden Store offers a tranquil retreat from the bustling downtown. It includes two distinct historical buildings, two modern buildings, and a lush garden, creating a unique blend of tradition and modernity. The location, previously housing a state-owned travel agency, now features stand-alone stores for Icicle men’s, Icicle women’s, and Carven, along with a fine-dining restaurant and a café.
The ICCF Garden Store is strategically located near landmarks such as the Consulate General of France in Shanghai and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, contributing to the neighborhood’s rejuvenation project. The area already hosts various lifestyle ventures, including the sustainability shop 3R Lab, Aesop’s first mainland China store, and multibrand boutique LMDS, reflecting modern-day Haipai culture—a fusion of Eastern and Western sensibilities.
The Garden Store spans 2,000 square meters and features design work by German architecture firm GMP and Belgian architect Bernard Dubois. GMP created the facade of the buildings and curated the garden space, achieving a fluid contrast between the 1920s and 1990s structures with a modern facade of brick and water-brushed stones. Dubois, who also worked on Icicle’s Paris flagship project, designed the interiors, while storied Italian furniture maker Riva 1920 provided most of the furniture.
Shanghai Mingyue handled the restoration design of the historical buildings, and Shanghai Xufang Construction Industrial Co. Ltd. managed the structural renovation works. The Icicle women’s store, located in a street-facing historic building, features limestone walls and flooring, conveying a sense of serenity and harmony. The Icicle men’s store, housed in an imposing three-story building with austere arched window facades, aims to develop “a more austere, masculine” identity with features like a light well and aged oak furniture.
Carven’s standalone store is located in the compound’s second historic building, originally a Western-style house from the 1920s. The renovation focused on restoring its complex molding and delicate wooden window casings. Above the Carven store is The Silex restaurant, helmed by Malaysian star chef Kevin Wong Yun, offering a menu inspired by French and Chinese culinary traditions.
Café Silex, with its double-height space and alfresco patio, leads to a vibrant garden filled with fragrant herbs and flowering shrubbery. The garden’s design draws inspiration from the scented fields of the South of France, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.
To mark the opening of the ICCF Garden Store, a preview of Milène Sanchez’s works will be on view at the store gallery, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations and highlighting the cultural exchange between China and France. ICCF Group plans to roll out the Garden Store format in other key markets, further cementing its commitment to sustainability and innovation in retail.
