The pioneer of shopping malls, Iguatemi Sao Paulo first opened its doors in Jardins in 1966. Since then, with its impossibly fashionable clientele, acclaimed restaurants, architect-designed cafes and roll-call of top global brands, it has maintained an impressive exclusivity.
Iguatemi is Brazil's biggest retail developer, operating ten malls across the country, with another five in development, including JK Iguatemi, a new Sao Paulo flagship set to open later this year. At the helm is Carlos Jereissati, the group's CEO. Since taking over the business in 2005, he has created a strategic platform for businesses wanting to enter the Brazilian market, helping retailers from Louis Vuitton to Bulgari to tap into one of the world's few remaining growing markets.
Jereissati's personal passions have also influenced the brand. He is one of the country's most prolific collectors of Brazilian art, with pieces by photographer Luiz Braga, installation artists Misca Detalhe, Cabelo and Vik Muniz, and sculptors Artur Lescher and Tomie Ohtake. These works are often displayed in Iguatemi centres across the country, including the original mall in São Paulo (pictured) and the brand's newest property in Brasilia.