June 4, 2003

HERMĒS SET TO OPEN AT ALA MOANA CENTER

Paris-based luxury retailer prints a limited edition scarf to celebrate its opening at Ala Moana

HONOLULU—Hermès will celebrate the opening of its newest store in Ala Moana Center on Wednesday, June 4th, 2003.  In celebration of this special grand opening, Hermès will print a limited edition “Aloha” scarf – 100 to be exact – to be sold exclusively at the Ala Moana location. Each scarf will have “Ala Moana 2003” printed on it and be available for $270.

Originally designed by Laurence Bourthoumieux in spring 2000, the “Aloha” scarf pays homage to emerged lands, the lands of volcanoes – Hawaii and especially the Island of Oahu. The scarf design features images of guava, palms, coconut trees around the trim, and a great Banyan tree in the center.

The new Ala Moana Center Hermès store occupies 4,450 square-feet and reflects the contemporary-style featured at Hermès stores worldwide. Designed by RDAI, the interior architecture agency directed by Rena Dumas, who is in charge of design for Hermès stores worldwide.

The design of the store allows visitors to move freely through the fluid, high-ceiling space, which is organized around the different product families. First comes leather and silk, including the House’s original craft, saddlery, and then small leather goods, gloves, enamel, perfumes, art of living, tableware, the men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections as well as watches and jewelry. The ceiling lights run in a meandering pattern, highlighting the store’s internal architecture. The goal of the design team was to create an apparent simplicity of interior architecture and a harmonious interplay of light and matter creating the kind of warm atmosphere one associates with hospitable houses.

Ala Moana Center is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc.  General Growth Properties is the nation's second-largest shopping center owner, developer and manager.  General Growth currently has ownership interest in, or management responsibility for, a portfolio of 160 regional shopping malls in 39 states.  The company portfolio totals approximately 140-million square feet of retail space and includes over 16,000 retailers nationwide.  A publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), General Growth Properties is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GGP.  For more information on General Growth Properties and its portfolio of malls, please visit the company Web site at www.generalgrowth.com.

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