Although only a few outside China have ever heard of sneaker brand Warrior, it has been a household name in the homeland since its inception in 1927. And now, approaching its 100th anniversary, Warrior is stepping up its retail presence at home base Shanghai with a flagship store that’s dedicated to Warrior 1927, its on-trend shoe division which was only launched three years ago. Occupying 691 sqm. (7,438 sq.ft.) across three levels on the premises of a historic, Shikumen-style building, the premises feature a contrasting modern interior created by the Warrior 1927 design team and STILL YOUNG, a design practice with offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan. The chosen aesthetic blends the building’s history with understated modernism and a solid dose of Chinese mythology. As such, each floor features a distinctive dragon-inspired art installation which presents the evocative narrative of ‘Eastern Awakening’. The red brick façade and its ornaments have been been fully retained and black-lacquered doorway and windows.

The ground floor is anchored by floor-to-ceiling installation which merges the shape of a shoe with the skeletal structure of a dragon’s head. Fiery red kinetic screens, paired with sculptural mechanical components, add a surreal dynamic to the structure. A metallic framework, which evokes the memory of old factories, serves as a backdrop for the classic Warrior 1927 collections. In dialogue with the century-old architecture, the robust columns are crafted from frosted acrylic and metallic textures. An adjacent store section, which includes the brand history wall, presenting both archival images and text which trace the brand’s milestones, sees an infusion of walnut with matching tiered displays and a coffered ceiling. One floor up, the athleisure, classic, and streetwear collections are presented, in addition to a tea bar and a customisation area. A dragon-spine installation pulses like a heartbeat from the depths of a volcano, and resonates throughout the space. From this core, energy radiates in concentric circles, evoking both a running track and traces of movement, reflecting Warrior‘s heritage.

Here, shoppers can indulge in material samples and colour swatches, and bring designs to life on digital screens. Also on this floor is so-called social zone, a collaboration between Warrior 1927 and Chinese tea dessert chain LeLeCha.The 回 character, derived from the brand’s Chinese name and interpreted as looping-square geometry, defines the spatial rhythm. Metallic textures and bright lighting create a calm yet dynamic atmosphere. On the top floor, the Dragon Eye installation completes the narrative journey spanning past, present, and future. Instead of retail, this floor dedicated to events. Silver-white mirrors and translucent materials create a sense of infinite a temporal-spatial extension, which aim to project Warrior 1927 forward vision. Once again, the 回 character is taken as inspiration, and here it’s translated into subtle spatial symbols, permeating the spatialf ramework, wall lighting, and flooring. The new Warrior 1927 store stocks the full range of men’s and women’s shoes and apparel items. © superfuture