Stefano Ricci has just opened a new store at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong and the maison’s second iteration in the city is as refined as the first, hard-to-miss store that opened in 2018 at The Peninsula Hong Kong. All the signature Stefano Ricci boutique characteristics are there, from the dark colour motifs to the glass-encased cabinets filled with dazzling accessories, the oak furnishings, and the unmissable eagle theme—the fierce-looking bird has its talons entrenched in every store. Behind gilded doors, there’s a rarified air of privacy and panache, as the groomed staff in immaculate uniforms are at the guests’ beck and call. Sit back as things are brought, unveiled, unfurled, and unclipped just for you, like in a members-only club for the elite. One can’t remember if white gloves were on, but they were certainly implied as the latest pieces of a manicured selection were brought out.

What a store. In the handsomely appointed showroom decked with lacquered furnishings, a rich patina envelops the entire room. Gleaming, polished cabinets spotlight the latest accessories such as exotic-skin belts, ties, shoes, and bags, all for the eyes of an in-the-know clientele. The menswear and accessories are so polished and pristine, the only tags worth looking at are ones about the finesse of the fabrication, and how to take care of them. Silk ties, crewneck linen t-shirts, shirts, tapered jeans, and Bermuda shorts are all crafted with meticulous precision—take a jeweller’s loupe to see the exact stitching, hidden buttons, lambskin leather inserts in blousons, and decorative hardware of precious metal.

Here in the balmy heat of Hong Kong, the summer clothes are currently well-stocked—linen shirts, swimming trunks, logo-embroidered caps, and sunglasses—next to leather goods such as matted crocodile shoes, handmade duffel bags, or suede and calfskin leather slip-ons. There are bags with gold and silver accents, as well as a straw Panama hat that can be yours for a mere US$1,000 (HK$7,807). For the eagle-eyed, there’s an exotic skinned belt, with a shimmering diamond-dotted belt buckle that scales upwards of HK$900,000. 

As we go to publish, the menswear pioneer has over 70 boutiques dotted around the globe, always in prime locale: at Harrods in London, on Avenue George V in Paris, on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and at the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace in Saint Petersburg—the list goes on. It’s hard not to notice a location pattern, as there’s a privileged type of neighbourhood the brand prefers to be at the centre of. Luxury likes company, and by opulent osmosis, Stefano Ricci is letting its customers know what tier it speaks to.

If you take a look at a world map of its stores, unlike other brands, you’ll note how many more stores are based in the Eastern Hemisphere. The brand has been committed to opening stores on this side of the world as early as 1991 with a store in Shanghai and continues to thrive in several Asian cities—and with good reason. Until 2017, China was the maison’s greatest market. Post-pandemic, there are clear signs China will become its biggest market once again as trend reports show sales have been enjoying a steady incline. In fact, as per Jing Daily, Stefano Ricci’s revenue increased by 43 per cent in 2023, and already an extra 10 per cent growth in 2024. 

While we acknowledge the remarkable abundance of Ricci, it’s the absence that we can underline—the clientele of the brand are the VIPs who are not on Instagram, and captains of industry who’ve eschewed social media altogether. The New York Times headline reads, “Stefano Ricci, Clothier to the 0.001 Percent,” and GQ Italia stated, “Stefano Ricci, eleganza senza tempo” (“timeless elegance”). 

Here is a brand that does not do incessant seasonal shows under the pressure of immovable fashion-industry timetables. Rather, it works on its own timelines. For sure, there are seasonal pieces that appear in stores in a timely fashion, but the brand isn’t victim to fad or trend, preferring inspiring narratives to move the needle forward. As per Robb Report Hong Kong’s earlier reporting, the brand has global themes in mind. In 2022, the label tapped into the adventurer’s spirit with a campaign shot in the Galápagos Islands. This year, the brand’s latest visuals are shot by legendary photographer Steve McCurry in Cambodia, where jungles and ancient temples lining the Mekong river are used as the backdrop to the menswear line. The palette of forest green and browns is like a boscage, the earthy colours focus on the natural—all of which you can order from the newly minted store at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

Stefano Ricci

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, ICC, 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon

All original images by Chris Yau, shot exclusively for Robb Report Hong Kong.