Who? Dennis Chan's 'Wulu' diamond pendants and earrings were thrust into the limelight in May when Maggie Cheung Man-yuk (below) won the best-actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Clean. As the cameras caught Cheung proudly showing off her award, a shiny earring dangled conspicuously from her right lobe. Combining elements of contemporary western designs and the traditional Chinese lucky charm, the wulu, which embodies heaven and earth, was one of Chan's many Chinese-inspired creations. How did it happen? Chan, an avid collector of jewellery and timepieces, had a strong interest in accessory design and graduated with a product-design degree from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In 1997 he was commissioned by the Hong Kong govern-ment to design a limited-edition range of watches to com-memorate the handover, after which he travelled extensively on the mainland. Chan says he was disappointed to find many artefacts were not carefully preserved, and he was inspired to launch an international jewellery label that combined historical Chinese elements with contemporary designs. The range will be available in September and is currently on show in Paris. What do the designs look like? 'My designs are modern and exude detailed craftsmanship,' says Chan. 'East meets west best sums up the creative direction and I think Maggie Cheung, who has beautiful Chinese features yet exudes a western spirit, is the perfect model for my designs.' What does the designer have to say? 'Paris will be the first place I will launch my collection because I find Parisians appreciate oriental designs more than their other European counterparts,' says Chan. 'After that, I wish to expand into the Hong Kong market and eventually make my way into China.' Where is the collection available? A selection of 88 limited-edition Wulu pendants and earrings is being exhibited at the Hotel de Crillon, 10, Place del la Concorde, Paris; inquiries: 331 5345 3518.
