A solid-gold Angry Birds necklace from Chow Tai Fook, which is targeting younger, mid-range consumers. (Chow Tai Fook) In another sign that the growth slowdown in China’s luxury market is far from uniform, Hong Kong jeweler Chow Tai Fook posted 34 percent mainland growth in its third-quarter sales yesterday. The success comes from the fact that the…
‘Vintage King’ William Banks-Blaney Talks China and New Online Shop
His brick-and-mortar store, which opened in 2009, has been a staple stop for celebrities like Amal Clooney, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter, but now, William Banks-Blaney has taken his popular London boutique William Vintage online, making it newly accessible for luxury fashion fans worldwide. A particularly large market awaits William Vintage in China, where vintage…
Céline Steps Up Presence In China’s ‘Evolving’ Luxury Market
A look from Céline’s first China runway show in Beijing’s 798 Art Zone last week. (Weibo/石榴笑了的围脖) As many Chinese luxury consumers once obsessed only with a few top “mega-brands” such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci expand their tastes, a growing number of high-end niche labels are upping their China marketing efforts in response. Last week,…
How China’s Trendsetters Are Shaping This Boutique Luxury Footwear Brand
In China, where even big name luxury brands are still working hard to forge relationships with consumers, an independent designer shoe label might easily slip under the radar. But founders Mary Alice Malone and Roy Luwolt of Malone Souliers, a three-year-old London-based luxury footwear brand, found that the opposite was true. In fact, their standout…
Virgil Abloh Gives China’s Luxury Streetwear Fans Off-White Flagship Store
It’s been a mere two weeks since Liu Wen dazzled her social media followers and Vogue’s best-dressed list jury in a sheer bodice and denim Off-White gown at the Met Gala, and Off-White founder Virgil Abloh has already treated Chinese zealots to a new flagship store in Shanghai. The space, called “Structurally Sound” and located…
Interview: Elisabeth Koch Is China’s Milliner To The Stars
Actress Shu Qi in Vogue China wearing one of Elisabeth Koch’s hats for the December 2013 100th anniversary issue. (Vogue China) Not everyone can leave a career in banking to move to China and create designer hats, but that’s exactly what Beijing-based milliner Elisabeth Koch did six years ago—and she hasn’t looked back. She’s now…
Key Takeaways from the Met Gala’s Social Media Storm in China
In the past few days, the fashion world has been almost unanimously fixated on the Met Gala, and Chinese consumers are no exception. Thanks to Chinese fashion bloggers and a controversial Chinese theme in 2015, the Met Gala has become one of the most discussed topics on Chinese social media this week. The once Western celebrity-dominated…
Video: Andy Lau Stars In New Cartier Short Film
To celebrate the launch of its new Tank MC watch unveiled during Watches & Wonders in Hong Kong this weekend, Cartier created a new short film starring Hong Kong actor Andy Lau. The ad, directed by Baillie Walsh, features Lau rushing through Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui district on his way to a performance at…
Video: China’s Anti-Graft Effects ‘Not That Massive’ For Patek Philippe Sales
Swiss watchmakers may be facing a huge China sales slump thanks to the government’s anti-corruption campaign, but that didn’t stop Patek Philippe from opening its second China “Maison Patek Philippe” location in Beijing this May. In a recent CNBC video interview, company president Thierry Stern and honorary president Philippe Stern appeared to discuss how the…
LVMH Targets Underprivileged Chinese-Americans For Retail Training Program
Louis Vuitton in New York City. (Flickr/Ze Carlos Barretta) Luxury retailers find a challenge in locating Chinese-speaking retail staff to serve the massive number of Chinese tourists entering their stores across the world. As a result, luxury conglomerate LVMH has teamed up with the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), Parsons The New School for Design, and…