"Maison Sisley Shanghai expresses the philosophy of value, or even deeper, the soul of the brand," d'Ornano said. "It is something that we see like as a poetic luxury — a luxury but not an impressive one. (It is) not one where people feel uncomfortable. Customers feel a nice environment and a break from the crazy rhythm of what we all have in our lives. They will have time for themselves and people can interact with them and take care of them."

Like the brand has done in countries across the world including France, Germany and other European countries, Sisley is keen to open more Maison Sisley in China. It is looking for locations which boast the Chinese history and also connect with Sisley.

"We need to find the right place where we are able to create something which is not exactly a shop. It's more like a reflection of the soul of what we are and connected to the soul of the city where we do Maison Sisley," d'Ornano said. "Each maison is different, so it is not like one concept that can be applied everywhere in the world."