Retail brands need to consider carefully whether to establish their China headquarters in Shanghai or Beijing. The majority of fashion brands has opted for Shanghai in the past, but Beijing, the capital city, has a lot to offer too. In fact, Beijing might even make more sense to certain brands. Why? Let’s take a look at some of the characteristics of these two Chinese metropolises.
Nike running shoes were suspended around an illuminated track as though on the feet of eight invisible athletes for this installation at Beijing’s 798 arts district by Shanghai design office Studio-at-Large.
Shanghai based Bundshop, e-tailer of curated Designed in China products and fashion, have recently re-launched with a slightly different, more exclusive format. As described in the Core77 article, Bundshop are now featuring a new design from China, daily. The shop is currently invitation only, and with the first 10,000 members, they plan on offering free worldwide shipping.
With products as intriguing and iconic as Carl Liu’s Shanghai Breeze fan, and the Kettle Lamp by Jonas’ Designs, Bundshop is positioning itself to be the taste curator of modern Chinese design.
Visit Bundshop
China is a place where quick money can be made: this is one of the misperceptions many brands have before coming to China. In fact, there are many crucial factors to consider first when planning a brand expansion. Some of these things to consider we have listed here.
Guizhou Classic Tea Co., Ltd specializes in top-grade Guizhou tea business. With a total tea plantation of 280 hectares, the Company strives to discover tea, liquor and other classic cultural elements of Guizhou and extract these rare elements to improve the added value of Guizhou products and create more Guizhou brands. “Luosike”, one of the tea brand developed by the Company, has been awarded gold medal as early as 1915 in Panama World Expo together with Maotai, a wine brand. However, the brand has merely been recognized in GuizhouProvince due to complicated reasons.
Japanese airline, ANA (All Nippon Airways) has recently announced a Design Contest to let the public design the livery for one of its Boeing 767-300 jumbo jets! The contest is launched in commemoration of ANA’s upcoming 60th anniversary. Anyone, – regardless of age, nationality, or artistic skill – is free to submit a design for consideration. Kids of all ages can even download and print out a blank airplane template and ‘paint’ the plane with crayons. They can then scan and upload their creative genius, or even send their drawings to ANA by snail mail (normal post). Some of the more skilled artists may prefer to do it all digitally using their favorite digital drawing software package. So, all of you talented Chinese and Asia Pacific designers… what are you waiting for? Get to drawing!
Jump over to ANA’s contest page to learn more and get started…
This is an oldie, but goodie: It’s moon cake time again, and amidst the overabundance of self-important, lavish, and outrageously expensive moon cakes, are a small collection of moon cakes with a (literally) cheeky sense of humor 
Jump to the Found in Hong Kong blog to read all about it.
It’s nearly impossible to go a week without reading about international fashion brands expanding their operations in China. But what about Chinese brands targeting the West?
A number of Chinese fashion and apparel brands are now aiming to build upon their domestic success and establish themselves in Western markets. Among them are companies like Bosideng, with recorded revenues of $1.3 billion in 2012 and over 10,000 retail outlets in China, and Eve Enterprise, the group behind four menswear collections now targeting the UK.
“Shang Xia is not a second line of Hermes; it shares the same engagement of craftsmanship quality, but with Chinese inspiration. The best strategy of realise this is staying loyal to our philosophy and to use excellent raw materials, great craftsmanship and contemporary design.”
Read the interview at Luxury Society
More Tong was graduated from the China Academy of Art as a graphic designer in 2010, who worked at Wieden+Kennedy and now he is working at Frogdesign Shanghai.
Visit the portfolio of More Tong
Zhu Chao is a very young graphic designer and art director, born in Hubei and now working in Beijing. His work has been displayed at Tokyo TDC Annual Awards 2012 and GDC 11 and 09
Visit the portfolio of Zhu Chao
Founded by 2 American architects working in Shanghai, Mad Rabbit Kicking Tiger (MRKT) dares to make everyday objects and accessories unusual and innovative by using bold colors, unconventional materials, and primitive construction/ craftsmanship. Mad Rabbit does not follow trends, but creates them .
Visit the official site of MRKT
Spin Ceramics is a Shanghai based brand that produces simple, organic, elegant, fluid and modern ceramics designed and made by a collective of designers led by art director Gary Wang. The ceramics are made in the famous ‘Porcelain Capital’ Jingdezhen with traditional handcraft.
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Shang Xia is a brand for art of living that promises a unique encounter with the heritage of Chinese design and craftsmanship. Together with the Hermes group, designer Jian Qiong Er established Shang Xia with a mission to create a lifestyle founded on the finest of Chinese design traditions. The collection of Shang Xia consists of furniture, porcelain, home wares, clothing and jewellery. Shan Xia’s first retail space uses memory shaped high-tech white fabric to create a dream like feeling, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Founded by Jian Qiong Er
