Tag: Fashion

Leaders

5 Questions with: Richard Li, Founder & CEO of Secoo, China’s Leading Premium E-Commerce & Lifestyle Platform

Last month, Secoo held a brand upgrade press conference, to announce their new slogan – ‘Devoted to You’ and to introduce the brand’s expansion plans. Already the leading premium lifestyle platform with over 25% market share, these bold new plans centred on customisation – unique collaborations with Chinese designers and talents, personalisation – high-end travel and personalised education packages, rental – a seven-day luxury bags and watches service, as well as partnerships and co-branding aimed at diversifying Secoo into new products and offline, social experiences. Continue reading “5 Questions with: Richard Li, Founder & CEO of Secoo, China’s Leading Premium E-Commerce & Lifestyle Platform” →

Event

Expert Insight on the Future of Luxury E-tail in China; the China Luxury Committee in Shanghai

The China Luxury Committee event took place on the 18th of May in Shanghai. With expert speakers, the event was attended by an invitation-only guest list, including top-level executives from brands such as Chow Tai Fook, Focus Media, Tmall, Tencent, Gucci, Lane Crawford, Lululemon, Moet Hennessy Diageo, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and many more.

The event was highlighted by keynote speeches and a panel discussion, moderated by Chloé Reuter, Founder and CEO of Reuter Communications.

CEO of Secoo – the leading luxury online platform – Eric Chan gave many insights as to their success. The key aspect to Secoo’s success has been embracing the strength of offline experiences – even as an e-commerce platform, as well as not being afraid of diversification: Continue reading “Expert Insight on the Future of Luxury E-tail in China; the China Luxury Committee in Shanghai” →

Leaders

5 Questions With: Luca Lam, CEO of Visual Merchandising Leaders, Blue Mount

You will have seen the work of Blue Mount, without even realising it — the designs of top luxury brands’ retail stores, such as Shanghai Tang, Christian Louboutin, Coach, Ted Baker, Lane Crawford, Value Retail, K11 and much more is down to them. The simple term to sum up these projects is ‘Visual Merchandising’, while the reality is that their pioneering development of the field in China has led to the more apt label of Integrated Experience Curator.

Combining original artwork from established artists, cultural relevancy which inspires, cutting-edge technology that engages and meeting the varying requirements of brands, malls and department stores has led Blue Mount to become the leader in the field, with a presence all over China, as well as in the UK.

We met with Blue Mount CEO, Luca Lam, for a chat about his experience. Continue reading “5 Questions With: Luca Lam, CEO of Visual Merchandising Leaders, Blue Mount” →

Leaders

5 Questions with: Claire Chung, GM of YOOX-NET-A-PORTER Group, China

With a career not only spanning, but creating global fashion e-commerce, Claire Chung is a renowned expert on Chinese and international retail, digital, fashion and culture.

Speaking 5 languages and having lived across continents, Claire was a pioneer in leading Chinese cross-border commerce, launching China’s first luxury multi-brand online fashion retailer. As VP of ShangPin.com, Claire forged epic deals, bringing global brands and western government entities into China with strategic partnerships.

In 2015, Claire moved into a newly created executive role at Net-A-Porter Group level, to expand all businesses in the China market. After the historic merger between Net-A-Porter Group and YOOX Group which created the world’s number one retailer in luxury, Claire was promoted to lead all of the YOOX-Net-A-Porter Group‘s businesses in China.

We met with Claire to hear her insights on the China luxury market.

Continue reading “5 Questions with: Claire Chung, GM of YOOX-NET-A-PORTER Group, China” →

Analysis

5 Ways U.S. Luxury Brands Have Won in China
By Lauren Hallanan

While there is no one-size-fits-all China market strategy, there appear to be five common approaches for U.S. brands to reach Chinese consumers. Several U.S. brands including Tiffany & Co, Estée Lauder and Michael Kors, have made a name for themselves in China’s growing luxury market. The Luxury Conversation Survey on U.S. brands revealed clear adoration for various brands and travel destinations. How have they each achieved this? Continue reading “5 Ways U.S. Luxury Brands Have Won in China” →

Leaders

5 Questions With: Queennie Yang, Editor of VOGUE International

It’s safe to say that Queennie Yang is an authority on luxury in China. Currently Editor (Asia) of VOGUE International, Queennie’s previous roles include Managing Editor (China) of The Business of Fashion, as well as contributing writer for VOGUE, NUMERO, GQ, ELLE, Harper’s BAZAAR, Cosmopolitan, Madame Figaro, Grazia and STYLETV.

Queennie’s own blog has many thousands of visitors each day, and her Weibo has more than 140,000 followers.

We spoke with Queennie to get her views on current trends and the state of play in China at present. Continue reading “5 Questions With: Queennie Yang, Editor of VOGUE International” →

Trends

How a Curvy Butt is the New Luxury Status Symbol in China

We’ve all seen the carefully curated gym pics going out on social media. But more than just a chance to flash the flesh, fitness and exercise have a whole new meaning in China. Fitness is the new status symbol of luxury and wealth.

Bling is tuhao (nouveau-riche and lacking in class), Gucci is ‘something my Mum wears’, and a YSL lipstick is fine for entry-level luxury. But if you want something that says ‘I have plenty of free time, I am as up-to-date as can be with international trends, and I am a class above’ – you want a toned bod with a booty to boot.

A fine physique takes much more money, know-how, and time to build. Shapes and muscles speak of privilege, and are fast becoming a badge of social status itself. A growing segment of China’s young, wealthy class is shifting attention from obvious brand purchase to fitness and bodybuilding. Continue reading “How a Curvy Butt is the New Luxury Status Symbol in China” →

Leaders

5 Questions with OOAK’s Alice Xu; Succeeding in China with omni-channel boutique fashion

Having begun in 2012 and now with over 230,000 followers on Taobao, a new Tmall store and the OOAK Concept Boutique, OOAK (One Of A Kind shopping experience) has realised the retailer’s ideal of a multi-faceted brand which features both Western and Chinese designers, even creating their own branded jewellery in the process.

We spoke to the Founder of OOAK, Alice Xu, about the journey. Continue reading “5 Questions with OOAK’s Alice Xu; Succeeding in China with omni-channel boutique fashion” →

Leaders

5 Questions With: Ms. MIN, Rising Star of China’s Boutique Designer Scene

The story of Ms MIN began in Fuzhou, a city far from the catwalks of New York. It began during her secondary school life, when a teenage Liu Min used to accompany her mother to shop for fabrics that were then tailor-made into unique garments. This mutual interest led her towards a future path to the design world.

After a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design of Women’s wear from London College of Fashion, Liu Min’s own brand was launched in 2010 — Ms MIN. Continue reading “5 Questions With: Ms. MIN, Rising Star of China’s Boutique Designer Scene” →

Leaders

5 Questions With: Lu Yan, Founder and Owner of Comme Moi. “You can’t establish a brand just by being able to design”

Comme Moi, meaning “Like Me” in French, is a contemporary designer label founded in 2013 by one of China’s most famous super models – Lu Yan. Lu Yan has her reasons to name the brand “Like Me”.

As a young Chinese girl from a small remote village of Jiang Xi, Lu Yan ventured out of the country at the tender age of eighteen and made her way to the international fashion metropolis Paris, after being scouted by two modeling agents in Beijing.

Now thirty-six, married and with one young son, Lu Yan truly represents the modern generation of Chinese youth – hard-working, determined and willing to learn.

Continue reading “5 Questions With: Lu Yan, Founder and Owner of Comme Moi. “You can’t establish a brand just by being able to design”” →