Since Louis Vuitton opened its first shop in Asia and was reported much increase in revenue, other luxury brands were on the same trail. This year, at the Gucci Group, sales were up 25 percent in the first quarter in Asia, with growth coming mainly from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

As well in this year, Gucci opened its first store in Azerbaijan, along with a shop in Yekaterinburg, a city of 1.3 million in central Russia. “For global luxury brands, any market with sufficient critical mass of affluent and wealthy consumers, or an anticipated critical mass of affluence in the next 10 years, should be a strategic imperative,” said Milton Pedraza, chief executive of the Luxury Institute, an independent research institute based in New York.

The expansions come amid luxury brands’ continued strong focus on China and more established Asian markets. Gucci has now 28 stores in mainland China, while Bottega Veneta, also part of the Gucci Group, has seven. More Gucci Products are available on Top1handbag.net