Milan-based ItalianCreationGroup, which owns Italian luxury furniture brands, plans to open 12 stores along the Silk Road over the next year.

Co-founder/CEO Stefano Core says the aim of the company’s new retail strategy is to expand its global presence, especially in Asia.

“We are opening stores from China to Iran, following the paths of the ancient Silk Road trading routes.”

ItalianCreationGroup has just opened stores in Hong Kong and Mumbai, with Tokyo scheduled this week. Next years stores will open in Shanghai, Foshan and Shenzen in Mainland China, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Jakarta and Ahmedabad in India.

“We believe in a new Italian renaissance,” says Core, whose company has over the past few years acquired Italian furniture brands including legendary Driade and FontanaArte, as well as boutique bathroom design firm Toscoquattro and luxury kitchen maker Valcucine (pictured).

He says that bringing together design firms under one roof for the first time will allow ItalianCreationGroup to offer a range of Italian high-end products to the world.

Already the company has opened flagship stores in London and New York.