For Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette’s Beijing opening on September 28, it teamed up with a Chinese designer for the first time ever to produce a special China-only collection entitled Simon Gao for Galeries Lafayette. Beijing native Simon Gao has made a name for himself as a major force among up-and-coming young Chinese designers. The choice…
Category: Fashion
Interview Mag Criticized for ‘Racist’ Chanel Photoshoot
Photographer Billy Kidd is being criticized for a photo shoot he did in the August issue of Interview Magazine that people say reinforces Asian racial stereotypes. Entitled “Coco Served Hot,” the images portrayed an Asian woman in a traditional Asian farmer’s hat walking in New York’s Chinatown lifting a bindle stick on which were hung bags that…
Luxury Retailers Adapt to ‘Oversaturated’ China Market
Shanghai’s Kerry Center. (Shutterstock) As China’s luxury sales slow, a new report finds that brands’ rush to open new retail spaces has tapered off as well. Instead of rapid expansion, retailers are now focusing on quality over quantity when it comes to retail real estate in China as they adopt new strategies such as opening…
Photos: Backstage At Yifang Wan’s London Fashion Week Show
Looks from Yifang Wan’s F/W 2014 collection. (Alexa Beatriz) Inspired by artists’ work environments, Xiamen-born designer Yifang Wan’s F/W 2014 collection shown at London Fashion Week focused on comfort and ease. With an understated confidence, the collection’s mohair and wool fabric enhanced the female form with masculine luxury tailoring. The models’ bleached gray eyebrows created…
Can an “Autocratic” Chinese Owner Give Lanvin a Second Life?
A great number of high-end European luxury brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Hermès, and Dior are having substantial success in the Chinese market. However, Lanvin, France’s oldest high-fashion brand, is struggling. Back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Lanvin was one of the world’s hip luxury fashion brands. From fashion professionals and retailers, to…
WeChat Case Study: Montblanc Taps Into Chinese Astrology With ‘Moon Phase’ Campaign
Anyone familiar with Chinese holidays knows the importance of moon phases in Chinese culture, and Swiss watchmaker Montblanc is tapping into this interest with a new campaign on WeChat. Beginning on November 10, Montblanc’s WeChat followers have had the opportunity to participate in a campaign that promotes its Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar and Bohème Perpetual…
See Liu Wen’s Design for Fendi’s Peekaboo Project in China
China is the latest stop for Fendi’s Peekaboo Project, a charity auction that has seen participants like Zaha Hadid, Adele, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The project enlists local celebrities to design a bag inspired by Fendi’s iconic Peekaboo collection, which will be auctioned off to the charity of their choice. This time, Fendi is working with…
The Secrets to Luxury Eyewear Brand Gentle Monster’s Rapid Rise
The usually busy Huaihai Middle Road shopping district in the heart of Shanghai looked pretty quiet on a recent Saturday afternoon under the scorching July sun. But the unbearable heat didn’t stop consumers from lining up in front of the store of Gentle Monster, a high-end Korean eyewear brand. This has become a common scene…
Chinese Designer Spotlight: Fang Yang of Origami-Inspired Label By Fang
A look from By Fang’s Fall/Winter 2015 collection. (Courtesy Photo) Mixing key Western and Asian elements, designer Fang Yang, the founder of label By Fang, is known for her handcrafted origami shapes made from organza, which form structured looks that are modern and traditionally timeless at the same time. Living a large part of her…
How International Luxury Brands Translate Their Names for China
They say that there is power in names and nowhere is that truer than China, where Chinese characters often carry a deep significance. For any brand planning to enter the Chinese market, choosing the right Chinese name is usually a top priority. While a clumsy translation might not necessarily make or break your business, it…