CAMBODIA. DFS Group has celebrated the grand opening of its first store in Cambodia; T Galleria by DFS, Angkor.
The 86,000sq ft (7,990sq m) store is located in resort town and provincial capital Siem Reap, close to the ancient temple of Angkor Wat. It is said to be the largest duty free luxury department store in Cambodia and features 170 brands.
The offer includes international fashion and accessories, watches and jewellery, wines and spirits, and beauty and fragrances brands. A selection of locally handcrafted artisan products also feature.
A gala event to mark the opening was held yesterday (30 June). Guests included DFS Group Chairman and CEO Philippe Schaus; DFS Group Co-founder and shareholder Robert Miller; His Excellency Aun Pornmoniroth, Cambodia’s Senior Minister of Economy and Finance; and His Excellency Thong Khon, Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism.
The event began with a ribbon cutton ceremony before traditional Cambodian Apsara hostesses led guests on a tour of the store. Entertainment included traditional cultural performances and demonstrations from Cambodian craftsmen.
The store has been designed to reflect Siem Reap’s artistic heritage and incorporates traditional Khmer motifs and carvings throughout. Craftsmen from Artisans d’Angkor, a socially-conscious business aimed at revitalising Cambodia’s traditional crafts, carved bas-relief panels for columns within the store depicting motifs found in the Bayon and Angkor Thom temples.
Additionally, patterned wall screens and floor tiles are emblematic of local architecture while a nearly 60ft art installation is suspended in space above the store’s vaulted atrium and was inspired by the “rich, warm hues of Buddhist monks’ robes”.
“Here at DFS Group, 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. With the opening T Galleria by DFS, Angkor we mark a new era in the history of DFS,” said DFS Group Chairman and CEO Philippe Schaus.
“An oasis of luxury in the heart of the city, we’re confident visitors will enjoy indulging their taste for the finest international brands while experiencing the best of Cambodia within the beautiful setting of T Galleria by DFS, Angkor.
“We are privileged to have been able to work closely with the amazing people of Cambodia to honour their culture and help our customers fall in love with the magical and storied Siem Reap.”
International brands at the store include Bulgari, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. in watches and jewellery and Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Fendi, Gucci and Saint Laurent in fashion. In the beauty area, Clé de Peau Beauté, Dior, Estée Lauder and Giorgio Armani are among the more than 30 brands available.
The gala event also marked the official opening of T Galleria by DFS, Angkor’s onsite restaurant Crystal Jade. The first Crystal Jade outlet in Cambodia, the restaurant serves traditional Chinese cuisine and dim sum dishes and overlooks gardens and reflecting pools.
DFS also announced its sponsorship of several non-profit organisations focused on helping underserved populations in Cambodia. The company presented a donation check to Kuma Cambodia at the gala event. Kuma’s mission is to reduce poverty through the provision of education, healthcare and nutrition to vulnerable young children, English and computer courses for teenagers and workshops and guidance for parents and guardians.
“We take our responsibility to our local communities very seriously, both as an employer and as a supporter of those who are less fortunate,” said Schaus. “DFS is in Cambodia for the long term, and we intend to do all that we can to help Cambodian people to thrive.”
