Fashion One brings you Gucci launch in Taipei

Luxury fashion and accessories group Gucci has launched a new Taiwanese flagship with a high-profile party in the Taipei 101 skyscraper.

Taiwan's celebrity set were out in force this past week for the opening of a new Gucci flagship store in Taipei. This is the second store for Italian luxury brand in the Taiwanese capital, but the first to stock the full Gucci line.

Li Bingbing, the Asian brand ambassador for Gucci, was there to cut the rope: the 39-year-old actress, who starred in the latest instalment of the Resident Evil movie series alongside Milla Jovovich, wore a look from the Gucci Resort 2013 collection.

The store was designed by Gucci creative director Frida Giannini, and at 9,720 square-feet, is three times larger than Gucci's old space in the mall, which carried the brand's lines of handbags and accessories.

Gucci then celebrated the launch with a lavish dinner on the 84th floor of the giant tower (the world's tallest building from 2004 until the 2010 opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai). Li Bingbang was joined by actor James Wen in a dark Gucci suit, Chris Wang wearing a print Gucci fall 2012 suit with studded loafers, and Italian-Taiwanese actress Tiffany Hsu in a black Gucci Pre-Fall 2012 gown.

Frida Giannini also designed limited-edition items including a Boston bag and silk scarves inspired by Taipei 101, with a quarter of proceeds set to go towards local children's charities.

"Being responsible in the way that we conduct our business is a fundamental part of our DNA, as are our values of quality, creativity, and Italian artisanal craftsmanship for which our brand is renowned," Gucci China president Carol Shen told WWD.