A Giordano outlet in Singapore. PHOTO | COURTESY

Kenya is Africa’s second largest luxury market after South Africa, say economic analysts, spurring competition among these top brands to set up or expand their businesses in the country.

One such brand, Hong Kong’s clothing retailer Giordano, has opened its third store in Nairobi to capitalise on the growing Kenyan luxury-goods consumer market and deep-pocketed consumers unable to travel to shopping haunts like Milan and Paris.

The franchise store at the Two Rivers Mall on Kiambu Road follows the successful opening of two earlier outlets last year at the Garden City Mall on Thika Road and the Junction Mall on Ngong Road.

Giordano overseas market development manager Hoying Lee said the fashion retailer sees great potential in the Kenyan market and could target more store openings.

Founded in 1981, Giordano has over 2,100 stores and counters across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East dealing in men’s, women’s and children’s luxury apparel.

Global luxury brands have been making inroads into Kenya as they explore new emerging markets where demand is growing fast.

The spending muscle of Kenya’s fast burgeoning middle class is also spurring luxury brands to step up presence in the country by tapping e-commerce and eying more stores.