A man imbued with romantic idealism, Warin believes that even in the age of e-commerce, the warmth of human connection must be felt and nurtured. To his eyes, Fumin Road—a vibrant blend of international flair and local charm—offers the perfect setting to bring his vision to life.
From dawn till dusk, the street pulses with energy. His customers include designers, artists, travelers, and locals, with ages ranging from late teens to the sixties and beyond. "These genuine interactions give me confidence. More people will come to realize the need for physical spaces to reconnect with reality," shared Warin. "Brick-and-mortar stores offer unique experiences and emotional connections that e-commerce simply cannot replicate. I firmly believe in the power of physical spaces to foster emotional connections and bring people together."
This philosophy lies at the heart of his brand, Academy of Love—a reminder that love should be accessible to all. Stepping inside his boutique, you are greeted by an all-white collection. The reason for the color choice is unmistakable: love, after all, is pure.
In Albin Warin's Own Words:
Failed Ventures in Japan and the US
A Turning Point in Shanghai
I hailed from a small, frigid town in northern France. My connection with Shanghai began long before I ever set foot here.
It’s a story that goes back a long way—all the way to when I was ten. I was at boarding school then. Whenever classmates asked about my origins, I'd falsely claim Shanghai as my birthplace. Why Shanghai, of all places? It was because of a comic book I’d read as a child: The Adventures of Tintin. It was filled with stories about Shanghai, so in my imagination, I had already claimed it as my own. That book opened up the world to me and planted a deep-seated desire to explore, to see new places and discover different countries for myself.
In the year of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I made my first trip to Shanghai—my imagined homeland. Westerners often approach China with a bundle of stereotypes and misunderstandings. Yet everything about Shanghai amazed me, most delightfully. I found the city utterly captivating and vibrant, with remarkably warm locals. The city instantly fascinated me. From that moment on, Shanghai has never stopped surprising me.
I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey early—at 21, to be precise. Back then in Japan, launching a venture as a foreign national proved far more challenging than in China today. The venture failed, but it didn’t break my resolve. Later in New York, a fiercely competitive metropolis, my youthful ambition collided with a harsh reality that left me nothing.
After those setbacks, I made my way back to Shanghai and entered the fashion industry in 2012 with Mr. Monkey, a shoe brand I founded. Our signature children's design featured white canvas shoes with uppers for drawing. Here’s the best part: the drawings can be wiped clean, letting kids redesign their shoes again and again—endless fun! This product was a hit, quickly becoming a bestseller.
We later expanded into adult footwear and established an artist collaboration platform, transforming their designs into wearable art. Looking back, this was an early form of product customization. It showed that no matter the era, people are drawn to products that let them express their individuality. I run the brand for about seven years and it has grown into a great success.
In 2017, I was blessed with the arrival of my daughter. With both career success and family happiness, I wondered if such bliss could be real. I felt like it was too good to be true. Life soon answered, with cruel swiftness. My daughter's severe health condition brought our family to the brink of collapse.
This led me to make the painful decision to sell the Mr. Monkey brand in 2018. My daughter's illness prompted deep soul-searching, and I resolved to prioritize family time.
Love Is a Daily Lesson
Loving Ourselves and Embracing Life
What is happiness, really? This question haunted me during those painful days. Gradually, I became curious about how others perceive happiness. Driven by this question, I founded Happiness Architect, an educational platform rooted in psychology, dedicated to helping individuals and companies discover their intrinsic values. Concurrently, I launched the China Happiness Initiative.
Through numerous interviews, I documented stories of people courageously shaping their destinies, pursuing passions, and living authentically. Most have endured hardships in this pursuit—grappling with pressure from society, family, and friends—yet their resolve to chase dreams remains unshaken.
Their journeys and my own experiences confirm one truth: Happiness is not innate. To some extent, only through moments of brokenness can one grasp its essence.
Years later, I named my new brand Academy of Love—a continuation of this Initiative. Both love and happiness, I believe, must be learned. I owe this realization to my daughter, whose illness forced me to pause and reflect deeply on what love and happiness truly mean.
Life teaches us many lessons—some through childhood upbringing, others in classrooms. But no one teaches us how to love. That, we must learn on our own. When creating this brand, I wanted it to carry meaning, and at its core lies love. Every day, we learn to love—not just for others, but for ourselves and life itself.
Beyond love, this brand embodies two other defining elements. First, white—our signature hue— symbolizes purity of love while serving as a blank canvas for personal expression. Second, universality: this brand is for everyone, because love should belong to all. Today's fashion landscape features numerous fast-fashion and luxury brands. We bridge the gap, offering premium quality and experience at accessible prices.
Fortunately, the Academy of Love has flourished since its inception. My greatest challenge lies in surpassing my own expectations. In business, we should focus less on competitors' moves and more on the values we aim to deliver. Each day, I strive to improve—enhancing customer experiences, innovating better products—because the only rival worth defeating is my own limitations.
China Offers Unparalleled Opportunities
For Rapid Experimentation and Business Launch
Creating this brand fulfills my long-held dream. I'd always envisioned my flagship store's location—Fumin Road, a perfect blend of Shanghai's modernity and tradition. I secured the space late last year. Signing the contract on my birthday, December 1, made it profoundly meaningful. One year on, I couldn't be happier with this decision.
We currently operate two stores in Shanghai and our first US outpost in California. New stores are launching soon in Hangzhou and Hong Kong, bringing our total footprint to five locations by the end of this year. Indeed, the brand has grown rapidly because love spreads quickly. While Shanghai's rents are steep, I am confident that our genuine and heartfelt approach will draw customers.
Fumin Road and Jing'an District have been tremendous creative catalysts this year. Our "Fumin" jacket, for instance, embodies the local elements. Featuring Chinese-inspired buttons with classic French tailoring, it represents a cultural synthesis. I designed this jacket as a special tribute to the district.
Initially, I assumed the brand would appeal to a niche demographic. Surprisingly, our customers span generations, from teenagers to seniors in their 60s. Customers purchase our items both for personal wear and as gifts—the heart motifs make them perfect presents. Couples often snap up matching sets with our signature heart designs, while fashion-forward elders from the neighborhood become regulars. Scenes like that make it clear we sell more than products—we deliver emotional connections.
Recently, we were honored to host Jing'an District officials as special guests. They expressed delight at seeing new startups established here and international friends pursuing careers in this district. With extensive entrepreneurial experience, I can attest that launching businesses in China has consistently been smooth, thanks to strong government support for startups.
China offers unparalleled ease for innovation with readily accessible resources. Strong manufacturing capacity, combined with a growing service-based economy, gives entrepreneurs what they need. Time is an entrepreneur's most valuable asset, and high efficiency in China saves time, making it easier than anywhere else to facilitate rapid experimentation and business launch. That is why I remain optimistic about the Chinese market.
Jing'an District exemplifies this advantage, serving as a hub for luxury brands and pioneering the first-store economy. Within less than a year of operating here, we frequently receive invitations to participate in promotional events and brand exhibitions. For instance, we recently joined a business district event where the government distributed shopping vouchers to our customers, which provided a measurable lift to our sales. Looking ahead, I sincerely hope to see more international entrepreneurs choose to set up shop here. Cultural exchange and blending invariably yield positive outcomes.