If you've ever been to Japan, then the name "Lumine" would probably ring a bell, because this established fashion mall can usually be found at major hub stations under Japan's JR East. And for the first time ever, they're venturing out of Japan to open a 10,000 sq. ft. space on the second floor of Clarke Quay Central some time in November.

While it may not be the go-to place for fashion purveyors who prefer to find something a little quirkier, they've managed to position themselves as an accessible point-of-reference for all-things essentially Japanese across all of their 16 branches in Japan, including in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Yurakucho (near Ginza).

Just like their various stores there, you’ll get an extensive range of trending wardrobe necessities that are both versatile and comfortable from swanky Japanese fashion brands (they've not released any names at press time). It may not be a full mall, but it's a start. They've promised that their “premium urban lifestyle” store will keep in line with the design ethos of its counterparts in Japan, offering a fuss-free, minimal facade that will be easy to navigate.

However, we asked why Lumine’s Singapore team picked Clarke Quay Central (and Singapore in general) as a starting point, and how they plan on standing out among other malls in Singapore, especially with the "gloomy economic outlook" that's been forecasted for this year. In response, Nao Miyawaki, Business Development Manager of Lumine Singapore, said: "We plan to have brands which are absolutely new to Singapore, so we believe we can be differentiated from other malls. This is made possible due to our strong competency in having a diverse mix of 2,248 tenants in our malls in Japan.

"Our customer service will be superior in attending to the needs and wants of the customers. There will be professional staff offering suggestions or production information to the customers to help create a satisfactory shopping experience. This is something not possible when making a purchase online, for example."

Lumine Singapore will be located on the second floor of Clarke Quay Central (6 Eu Tong Sen St.) from Nov 2017 onwards.