One hundred years of history
Central Group, proud owners of Milan's oldest department store, celebrates its centenary with an exhibition
THE well-known Italian department store La Rinascente in Milan turns 100 this year and Thailand’s Central group, which has owned the store since 2011, is joining the celebrations by launching the exhibition “Stories of Innovation” as well as hosting an exclusive gala dinner at Milan’s Palazzo Reale.
In 1917, businessman Senatore Borletti acquired the old Bocconi store in Milan founded in 1865 and completely refurbished it, renaming it la Rinascente (the rebirth). The adjoining La Rinascente district quickly became part of the city’s spirit and is home to many of Italy’s artistic, cultural and fashion landmarks including the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala theatre and the Palazzo Reale, which will be the main venue for the La Rinascente’s centenary celebrations.
The exhibition tells the story from various perspectives of La Rinascente in terms of fashion, design, society, arts and culture and innovations. The Timeline zone showcases the history of La Rinascente from its beginnings in 1865 as just a clothing store to its development into a department store in 1917 and then through the 100 years of success to the present.
The New World zone portrays the connections between art and shopping during the 20th century while the third, Present Tense, is all about La Rinascente’s evolution to the digital age, which emphasises a customer-centric approach.
Executives from the Central Group were on hand at the opening to welcome such VIP guests as Francesco Saverio Nisio, Italy’s ambassador to Thailand, Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Alfonso Dolce, chief executive of Dolce & Gabbana, and designer Rossana Orlandi.
“On behalf of the management, I am delighted for La Rinascente to have been trusted by its customers for more than 100 years. I’d like to thank everybody involved in helping to create this wonderful exhibition to celebrate this anniversary. As a Thai, I am extremely proud that our department store has been able to make the leap to the global level with the reputation of being the best in the world,” Tos Chirathivat, chief executive of Central Group told his guests, inviting them to stop by Patara restaurant on the store’s first floor to enjoy the ongoing festival of Thai food.
La Rinascente currently has 11 stores in major Italian cities including Monza, Padua, Turin, Genoa, Florence, Cagliari, Palermo, Catania and two stores in Rome. A new store, which will be the biggest in the Italian capital, is scheduled to open in September on the Via del Tritone between the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.
Thai visitors to La Rinascente can use their “One-Card” and will receive the same special privileges as they get shopping at Central department stores in Thailand.
