MILAN — Despite ongoing macroeconomic turmoil and market chaos, high-end design firms continue to open stores and deepen their presence in new frontiers.
According to a study by the Milan-based economic research institute CSIL, global capitals like New York, London, Paris, Milan and Tokyo remain cornerstone markets for high-end furniture and design.
“With dense networks of showrooms, luxury retailers, architects and affluent clients, these cities blend design heritage with strong purchasing power,” it said in a report released Thursday entitled “The World High-End Design Furniture Market: Distribution Strategies and Potential Cities.”
CSIL analyzed the business of 45 leading international brands and about 190 flagship stores are in top cities.
Flagships in key capital cities function not just as retail spaces, but as immersive brand experiences. “Brands such as Poliform, Minotti and B&B Italia have invested heavily in iconic showrooms located in central design districts, often collaborating with leading architects to enhance experiential impact,” the report said.
Palazzo Molteni Tokyo
Koji Fujii
Fueled by rising wealth and development of luxury real estate, hotels and branded residences, CSIL pinpointed Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai and Singapore as cities rapidly gaining prominence in the design and contract sectors.
“Their younger, design-curious populations further enhance long-term potential. Flagship store presence in these markets is expanding, but companies also rely heavily on local partners, joint ventures and project-based channels, especially for contract business,” the report said.
Emerging design capitals like Los Angeles, Miami, Berlin, Seoul and São Paulo serve more focused roles, it explained. Often hubs for art, culture and creative industries, they attract niche, design-conscious clientele and are ideal settings for new retail formats, pop-ups and designer collaborations. These cities are often used as testing grounds for experimental retail, including pop-up stores, concept showrooms and cross-sector collaborations.
Accounting for nearly 15 percent of the world’s furniture market, according to CSIL’s latest data, the high-end furniture market emerges as a strategic and dynamic driver within the global furniture industry.
North America is the largest market, largely due to its concentration of affluent consumers. The continent is home to more than 40 percent of global millionaires. Asia-Pacific and Europe follow in market size, while India and the Gulf countries stand out among the fastest-growing regions. The number of high net worth individuals rose to 60 million millionaires worldwide.
