Gap offers XXXS sizes in China to make up for its sizing difference with other countries. Pictured: a Gap store in Hong Kong. (Gap Inc.) International clothing retailers have long struggled to find a balance in their global sizing policies in order to cater to both their super-size American and petite Chinese customers, but a…
New York Fashion Week Grows as Magnet for Chinese Designers
A few years ago, Chinese fashion designers at New York Fashion Week were few and far between, even as their presence grew markedly at other major fashion events in London and Paris. Now, it’s a completely different story as New York is becoming a key platform for Chinese designers as they find it crucial to establish…
How Lane Crawford’s ‘Unique’ Business Model Defies China’s Anti-Graft Drive
Despite China’s ongoing corruption crackdown that has dampened sales for some luxury companies, Lane Crawford President Andrew Keith told CNBC that his company hasn’t felt the pain. In fact, Lane Crawford has gone ahead with its expansion plans into mainland China, and opened a new store in Chengdu this year. “We’re fundamentally different; we’re unique,”…
China’s Secondhand Luxury Market Catches on with Price-Conscious Fashionistas
A Gucci handbag that is up to 70 percent off its original price easily draws suspicion in China. With a prevalent daigou culture in the industry and e-commerce sites like Tmall riddled with fakes, shoppers after legitimate luxury products are likely to be more at ease sourcing their fashion from brick and mortar stores or…
What Luxury Brands Can Learn From China’s New Show, “Fashion Master”
It’s been called the “Project Runway of China” and it stars leading figures from China’s burgeoning fashion industry. Fashion Master, a reality show produced jointly by state-run television network CCTV and e-commerce giant JD.com, launched early last month to showcase the talent of Chinese designers and “build a bridge for Chinese aesthetics and the world’s fashion industry.”…
London Men’s Fashion Week: China’s Menswear Market Shifts Into High Gear
A look from Xander Zhou’s collection at London Men’s Fashion Week. (WeChat/Xander Zhou) Although overshadowed in recent years by a surge in spending by female shoppers, China’s menswear market has become more important than ever for a growing number of brands. Currently, menswear accounts for around 43 percent of China’s overall apparel industry, the largest piece of…
Acquiring Major Stake in Vivienne Tam, Chinese Brand Ellassay Aims for Global Influence
New York-based Chinese-American designer Vivienne Tam is moving into mainland China with the help of a new Chinese partner, Shenzhen Ellassay Fashion Co. The Chinese women’s apparel company announced Tuesday that it will buy 75 percent of Vivienne Tam’s brand rights for 37 million yuan. The rights were acquired from the company’s sole shareholder, Peony Power Limited,…
Spring Festival Spotlight | Carolina Herrera’s Year Of The Horse Matryoshka Bag
Jumping in on the year of the horse bandwagon is fashion designer Carolina Herrera, who has just launched a special-edition red-and-gold Matryoshka bag to ring in the Chinese New Year. According to Luxury Launches: Check out a close-up of the bag below, and see our ongoing coverage of special-edition Chinese New Year items here.
London Collections: Men Chinese Designer Spotlight | Xander Zhou
A look from Xander Zhou’s Autumn/Winter 2016 collection shown at London Collections: Men. (Courtesy Photo) When Xander Zhou showcased his much-anticipated Autumn/Winter 2016 designs at London Collections: Men earlier this week, the catwalk was veiled by the loss of a global icon. Hours before the show, the news of David Bowie’s death was announced, and the…
Vogue China Hails 8th Anniversary With China’s Top Models
Vogue China is celebrating its eighth anniversary in September with eight different covers, each featuring a Chinese or Western model. Since starting out in 2005 with an initial printing of 300,000 issues, the magazine has made a quite a name for itself: it now has a circulation of around 650,000 and boasts practically more advertisers than…