https://www.scmp.com/rss/324296/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com One of the biggest showstoppers at New York Fashion Week last year was a collection of flashy Chinese sportswear in bold red and yellow, the colors of the Chinese flag. As if the message wasn’t already clear, the Chinese characters for “China” were also emblazoned on the front and back. The pieces were from athletic wear brand Li-Ning, founded in Beijing in 1989 by the Olympic gymnast of the same name. After years of losing ground to international sportswear brands such as Nike and Adidas,... https://www.scmp.com/culture/chinese-fashion-designers-nationalism/article/3006150?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/chinese-fashion-designers-nationalism/article/3006150?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Apr 2019 10:02:47 +0000 Fil Xiaobai is a cool girl. The kind of girl whose style – a mix of designer labels and high-street fashion, sparkles and combat boots, funky hair colours and a smattering of tattoos – turns heads. Even in Shanghai, China’s most international city, Fil Xiaobai (real name: Yan Su-shi) stands out. But in her hometown of Chengdu, the cool nonchalance with which she carries herself is almost the norm. “Chengdu women are very stylish,” she says. “In Chengdu, fashion is just part of life, what you are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2147365/chengdu-most-fashionable-city-china-say-local-style-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2147365/chengdu-most-fashionable-city-china-say-local-style-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 May 2018 23:45:45 +0000 Fashion photography in China, perhaps even more than in other places, is dominated by big names, some international – Juergen Teller, Mario Sorrenti – or local superstars such as Chen Man and Sun Jun. Independent fashion magazines are on the rise in China as they focus on style outside the mainstream A fashion media market dominated by big name magazine titles, an undeveloped creative education system and a profession still largely driven by favours and relationships all make it hard for young... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2146697/five-fresh-new-china-fashion-photographers-watch-quirky?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2146697/five-fresh-new-china-fashion-photographers-watch-quirky?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 May 2018 06:15:00 +0000 Can you describe the aesthetic of your brand? Alve Lagercrantz: “‘Stupid elegance’ – that encapsulates the brand. It’s about an easy-going attitude. Fashion at the moment is quite serious and [Sirloin is] about having fun, enjoying it.” How long have you two been working together? Mao Usami: “Two years.” Lagercrantz: “But we studied together in [Central] Saint Martins [in London, Britain], worked in different places in Europe, then moved together to Shanghai.” Why Shanghai? Lagercrantz: “We... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/2144452/shanghai-fashion-week-better-paris-say-couple-behind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/fashion/article/2144452/shanghai-fashion-week-better-paris-say-couple-behind?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 May 2018 09:15:00 +0000 China hasa huge number of native digital users, with a youth culture obsessed with online celebrities and almost a billion monthly active users on the dominant social media platform, WeChat. In this environment, launching a costly niche fashion magazine seems counter-intuitive, and yet that is exactly what Lily Chou and Calvin Luo, an independent fashion designer, have done. China’s newest fashion KOLs mix travel savvy with distinctive style Rouge Fashion Book, really more of a biannual coffee... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2143061/independent-fashion-magazines-are-rise-china-they-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2143061/independent-fashion-magazines-are-rise-china-they-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Apr 2018 10:45:45 +0000 When John Liu married Sophia in Shanghai last year, he wanted a wedding that reflected their life together – including their two dogs – and their love of fun and fine food. The focus was on organising a personalised celebration that balanced the couple’s Chinese heritage with a desire to make the day fun and relaxed for their family and friends, a mix of Chinese and international guests. It certainly helped that Liu’s restaurant, Highline, has a spectacular terrace with panoramic views, and to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2142113/three-high-end-chinese-wedding-trends-quality-customisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2142113/three-high-end-chinese-wedding-trends-quality-customisation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Apr 2018 11:15:00 +0000 Unless you are in the fur or leather business, it’s unlikely you will have heard of the city of Haining. It’s a small city by Chinese standards, with a population a tick over 800,000, located 125 kilometres (80 miles) west of Shanghai, in Zhejiang province, traditionally a stronghold of textile and clothing manufacturing. In the world of fur and leather, however, Haining is a powerhouse, producing 50 per cent of all the fur and leather products, both finished garments and raw materials, made in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2137458/chinas-fur-capital-touts-itself-world-even-if-furs-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2137458/chinas-fur-capital-touts-itself-world-even-if-furs-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Mar 2018 03:46:17 +0000 Like every other business selling to consumers in China, independent fashion designers are taking to e-commerce to reach an audience of fashion-hungry millennials – with impressive results. Taobao – the popular online shopping website operated by Alibaba – is known as a mass marketplace for cheap goods and knock-offs, but is rarely thought of as a breeding ground for innovative independent fashion design. China’s fast-fashion antidote: second-hand stores and clothing swaps to lessen ecological... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2137294/how-chinese-fashion-designers-built-their-labels-e-commerce?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2137294/how-chinese-fashion-designers-built-their-labels-e-commerce?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Mar 2018 01:15:00 +0000 It’s hard to escape the resurgent nationalism emanating from China in 2018. A president consolidating power, an economic resurgence and a central place on the geopolitical stage are all reasons for Chinese people to take pride in their country. This renewed sentiment of national pride crosses over into many different arenas, including fashion. At the highest-profile Chinese fashion event of 2018 thus far, the Tmall-sponsored “China Day” shows of the most recent edition of New York Fashion Week,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2135770/chinas-fashion-nationalism-li-nings-red-yellow-sportswear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2135770/chinas-fashion-nationalism-li-nings-red-yellow-sportswear?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Mar 2018 06:15:30 +0000 The Chinese have been drinking tea for more than 2,000 years, but the 21st century is turning the old traditions on its head amid an onslaught of coffee shops sprouting up in cities across the country. Starbucks has been leading the charge, having opened more than 3,000 outlets in China since 1999. It is planning to open another 2,000 by the end of 2021. The Seattle-based company has boasted it is opening a store every 15 hours in China. In December it opened its largest store in the world –... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2134477/tea-vs-coffee-china-new-style-cafes-frappuccino-fightback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2134477/tea-vs-coffee-china-new-style-cafes-frappuccino-fightback?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Feb 2018 23:15:30 +0000 Until 2011, the vast majority of Chinese celebrities used to dress themselves, but as more and more leave China for international red carpet events, attend Met Galas or be photographed in the front row at fashion shows in Paris, the need for a consistently stylish appearance has also grown. “It’s not something I would even say is happening organically; in the past five years, this phenomenon has exploded. This is another reflection of how China is growing, we call it ‘China speed’,” says InStyle... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2129456/chinese-celebrity-stylists-behind-glamour-fan-bingbing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2129456/chinese-celebrity-stylists-behind-glamour-fan-bingbing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jan 2018 02:17:01 +0000 In Australia, a latent luxury retail industry has awakened, invigorated by a cash injection from Chinese tourists, students and residents in its major cities. Concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, and in only a couple of retail precincts in each of these cities, Australia’s luxury retail industry has grown at a rate of 10.2 per cent per year from 2013, according to figures from IbisWorld. DAIGOU DOWN UNDER: THE CHINESE SHOPPING TREND TAKING AUSTRALIA BY STORM (AND A PUBLIC LISTING TO BOOT) This... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2127434/australian-luxury-retail-boom-fuelled-chinese-shoppers-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2127434/australian-luxury-retail-boom-fuelled-chinese-shoppers-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:16:11 +0000 It was not your average fashion week. There were no street-style photographers and no snooty front-row attitudes, just an overwhelming sense among participants that fashion could be a force for good and now is the time for the industry to change. This was the first incarnation of Eco Fashion Week Australia (EFWA), which was held from November 23 to 27 and is the first sustainable fashion week ever to be held in Asia-Pacific. It saw more than 40 brands from Australia, New Zealand, India,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2123166/how-ethical-fashion-growing-asia-pacific-and-five?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2123166/how-ethical-fashion-growing-asia-pacific-and-five?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Dec 2017 04:33:35 +0000 Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival is one of Australia’s most lavish events. In the state of Victoria, racegoers don their finery, swig champagne and try to back a winner, while “fashions on the field” competitions see the best dressed competing for hundreds of thousands of Australian dollars in prizes. Australia’s fashion laureate is a classic designer for the digital age This year’s carnival, which sees its biggest week in early November with four major race days, including Australia’s biggest... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2121695/melbourne-cup-mall-shanghai-china-fashion-newcomer-elliatt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2121695/melbourne-cup-mall-shanghai-china-fashion-newcomer-elliatt?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:01:37 +0000 The faces of foreign models have become ubiquitous in Chinese advertising in recent decades, particularly as a growing number of domestic brands look to give themselves an air of internationalism. The population of foreign models in China is increasingly made up of young women from Eastern Europe and Brazil looking to earn quick money or get some experience before moving into higher profile fashion markets such as the US or in Europe. They are initially signed to a “mother agency” in their home... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2120857/how-foreign-fashion-models-are-exploited-china-insider?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2120857/how-foreign-fashion-models-are-exploited-china-insider?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Nov 2017 10:00:57 +0000 Italian brand Diesel has developed an unconventional, rock ’n’ roll attitude during its 39-year history, and its latest campaign and celebrity design collaboration follows this ethos. Diesel’s autumn/winter 2017 collections and ad campaign are all about embracing imperfection. The campaign “Go With The Flaw”was in Beijing on September 6 to launch a collaboration between Diesel and Chris Lee (Li Yuchun), who won the Super Girl reality TV singing competition in China in 2005, and has since become... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2111151/diesel-collaborates-chris-lee-chinese-singer-and-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2111151/diesel-collaborates-chris-lee-chinese-singer-and-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Sep 2017 01:45:49 +0000 The fifth edition of Yo’Hood in Shanghai attracted massive crowds of millennials looking for the latest in street wear earlier this month. As well as the clothes, the street wear fair did not disappoint with an abundance of fashion influencers, hip-hop DJs, live performances and skateboarding demonstrations. Five trends we identified at the fair 1. International brands dominate While there were some local names represented at Yo’Hood, the vast majority of booths belonged to big international... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2109954/five-trends-shanghais-premier-street-wear-fair-yohood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2109954/five-trends-shanghais-premier-street-wear-fair-yohood?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Sep 2017 23:03:53 +0000 Beijing-based make-up artist Melilim Fu is one of Sina Weibo’s top vloggers, known to hundreds of thousands of followers for her colourful style and short tutorials. She is part of a new breed of beauty influencers, commonly called “KOLs” ((key opinion leaders) in China, who are driving an eco-system of hundreds of live-streaming platforms and informing an audience of hundreds of millions of young Chinese consumers – both men and women – about skincare and cosmetic products. “Live streaming... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2109267/chinas-beauty-trends-organics-live-streaming-influencers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2109267/chinas-beauty-trends-organics-live-streaming-influencers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Sep 2017 07:45:00 +0000 Clay Hales Clay Hales On the streets of Shanghai, it is increasingly common to see teenagers and twenty-somethings sporting white T-shirts emblazoned with “Supreme” logos, hoodies with exaggerated lengths made popular by Vetements, and the restrained, monochromatic urban aesthetic of brands such as Off White. The merging of designer fashion and streetwear is a worldwide phenomenon, but in China the lines between high fashion, fast fashion, niche brands and youth culture are blurring at breakneck speed. According to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2103877/millennials-push-chinese-streetwear-new-heights-they-seek?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2103877/millennials-push-chinese-streetwear-new-heights-they-seek?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jul 2017 04:30:18 +0000 Dozens of photographers wielding telephoto lenses snapped away outside the tents of Shanghai Fashion Week last month, but their subjects were not pop princesses or movie stars – they were fashion students and eccentrically dressed Chinese industry insiders making their way into one of the event’s 85 scheduled shows and presentations. Wang Lili is a familiar face at Shanghai Fashion Week, held in the luxury shopping and entertainment hub of Xintiandi district. She is both a “street style”... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2093890/shanghai-street-style-exploding-wang-lili-timothy-parent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2093890/shanghai-street-style-exploding-wang-lili-timothy-parent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 May 2017 23:33:44 +0000 Only a few years ago, Shanghai Fashion Week was a noticeably feminine affair, not only because the bulk of the designers showing were designing womenswear collections, but also because of a pervasive femininity popular in Chinese fashion at the time. Today, there are still more womenswear collections on the catwalks, but the menswear designers are growing in number, as are the number of “co-ed” collections featuring both men’s and womenswear. Menswear designers at Shanghai Fashion Week aren’t... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2087744/menswear-and-unisex-styles-rise-shanghai-fashion-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2087744/menswear-and-unisex-styles-rise-shanghai-fashion-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Apr 2017 01:15:34 +0000 Shanghai Fashion Week’s autumn/winter 2017 catwalk shows run until April 14, but there has already been plenty of world-class fashion action in the tents – and abandoned warehouses – of China’s premier fashion city. Strong collections from young designers launching their own brands, having returned to China after studying at top international schools in London or New York , show the benefits China’s fashion culture is reaping from the industry’s increasingly global outlook. Bigger than ever,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2087069/shanghai-fashion-week-seven-best-autumn/winter-2017-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2087069/shanghai-fashion-week-seven-best-autumn/winter-2017-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Apr 2017 09:04:14 +0000