SHANGRILA FARMS

juillet 28th, 2010 Posted in BEIJING, CITIES, FOOD, OTHER CITIES

juil, 28 2010

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: Safi et Alia Malik in Shangrila farms Beijing office with some of their products.

: Yunnan arabica coffee beans.

: A farmer at work on his coffee beans.

: Shangrila Yunnan coffee is handpicked, one of the conditions to get better coffee.

: Shangri La village in Yunnan.

: Local farmers of the Hamagu Bee project in Yunnan.

: Best coffee is harvested by hand.

: The husk is removed from the coffee bean by this machine.

This week, Nicely Made in China goes green and meets with Alia Malik, Shangrila Farms managing director in her Beijing office. Alia, a half-American, half-Pakistani New-Yorker is a development economist. She talks about fair-trade and helping Yunnan farmers grow coffee and raise bees.

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beijing, FOOD, SHANGRI LA

NICOLAS FAVARD-JEWELLER

juillet 23rd, 2010 Posted in BEIJING, CITIES, CRAFTS, FASHION, HANDMADE, JEWELLERY

juil, 23 2010

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: Goldsmith and jeweller Nicolas Favard in his Beijing shop situated in trendy Sanlitun.

: This Nicely Made in China silver and galuchat (skate skin) cuff-bracelet by Nicolas Favard costs 1800 Rmb.

: A white gold -18 carat- ring with a Tahiti black pearl costs 12,500 Rmb.

: Folded silver bracelet Nicely Made in China by Nicolas Favard.

: Nicolas Favard works on a piece of silver to make a money clip.

: This silver money clip costs 500 Rmb.

: This titanium piece is made of 4 different pieces without soldering it is an object to carry around as hand decoration.

: Nicolas in his Sanlitun workshop.

Nicolas Favard, a 30-year old Frenchman and an extremely gifted craftsman, has lived in China since 2004. He opened recently a new shop in a quiet street just on the West side of Sanlitun North Village. Nicely Made in China had a conversation with him on how he became a jeweller, what inspires him and the meaning of jewels.

Nicolas, when did you decide to become a jeweller?

I got the bug when I was 12. Our teacher told us it was time for us to think about what we wanted to do later in life and I found an article about becoming a jeweller in a book. The bug hasn’t left me since. Read the rest of this entry »

accessories, beijing, JEWELLERY

Mr. GAO ZHENMIN-LUTHIER

juillet 13th, 2010 Posted in BEIJING, CITIES, CRAFTS, HANDMADE, MUSIC, OTHER CITIES

juil, 13 2010

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: Mr Gao ZhenMin and his wife Wen YaXia in their workshop.

: Luthier Mr Gao ZhenMin in front of his folded double-bass inside the case.

: Ms Wen YaXia varnishing an instrument in the couple’s workshop.

: Mr Gao with a Sichuan maple soundboard ready to be mounted.

: Mr Gao shows his reserve of drying wood.

: A piece of maple that Mr Gao keeps for his next commission to use as a back of a double-bass.

: A very Nicely Made in China double-bass head with copper keys.

: A cello Nicely Made in China by Mr Gao in his Hebei workshop.

This week Nicely Made in China gives centre stage to Mr Gao ZhenMin, a luthier, owner of Huaming Bass. Mr Gao Zhenmin lives in Hebei and makes his speciality to build and repair double-basses and cellos with his wife, Ms Wen YaXia. NMiC paid him a call in his Hebei workshop where a collection of stringed instruments await his attention between fragrant Sichuan maple and alcohol-based home-made varnish.

When did you open your workshop?

In 2004, after working for 7 years at the oldest Beijing instruments-making factory where I was assembling, adjusting and testing the instruments. While working there I met a lot of music professors who told me there was a niche market in making instruments for high-end classical and jazz musicians. That’s how it started.

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beijing, CRAFTS, handmade

MALILIAN-FURNITURE DESIGN

juillet 9th, 2010 Posted in BEIJING, CITIES, CRAFTS, DESIGN, FURNITURE, INTERIOR DECORATION

juil, 09 2010

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: Marianne Friese poses on one of her creations: a sofa – Gobelins inspired with Chinese influence.

: A very Nicely Made in China armchair by Malilian. (Ph.Hans Schlupp)

: Every single cushion is inspected through and through by Marianne Friese in person.

: Marianne Friese and Ms Zhang check one last time the double piping Ms Zhang sew by hand.

: Cushions undergo a thorough inspection before they are delivered to the customers.

: Marianne Friese inspects every aspect of the newly made armchair before delivering it herself to its new home.

: Malilian’s creations leave the Beijing upholsterer’s workshop to go to their new homes.

: Marianne Friese’s Beijing home which doubles as a showroom. (Ph.Hans Schlupp)

Nicely Made in China today presents a non-traditional furniture designer: Marianne Friese, owner and designer of Malilian. German by birth Marianne arrived in China in 2001. Since 1988 she has been leading two lives: consultant and communications specialist 12 hours a day she turns into a sofa designer the other 12. NMiC caught her in the sweltering warehouse of the Beijing master upholsterer she works with where she was checking the quality of her latest creations before delivering them personally to their new homes.

Marianne, how did this all begin?

My first sofa was made in 1988 in Los Angeles where I was living. I wanted to buy one for my home and could not find anything I liked. A friend introduced me to a Mexican Read the rest of this entry »

beijing, decoration, furniture

SHANGHAI TRIO

juillet 2nd, 2010 Posted in ACCESSORIES, BEIJING, CITIES, CRAFTS, EMBROIDERY, FASHION, HANDMADE, INTERIOR DECORATION, SHANGHAI

juil, 02 2010

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: Shanghai Trio newly opened Beijing store in the basement of Sanlitun Village.

: Shanghai Trio bags in the Beijing Sanlitun store.

: A Nicely Made in China rice measure bag by Shanghai Trio.

: Carole Beaucour, Shanghai Trio Beijing general manager in the Sanlitun store.

: Shanghai Trio store in Beijing Sanlitun North Village.

: Su Lan one of the Shanghai Trio embroiderer at the Kunshan workshop.

: Virginie Fournier, Shanghai Trio owner and main designer.

: A Nicely Made in China embroidered table cloth by Shanghai Trio.

This week Nicely Made in China presents the brand « Shanghai Trio » (上海组合). 12 years old this year « Shanghai Trio » was born in Shanghai as the name suggests. It is now expanding to Beijing and also has a shop in Paris among other places. NMiC spoke to the owner Virginie Fournier.

How did you have the idea to start « Shanghai Trio »?

When I arrived in Shanghai in the middle of the 90′s my head was full of expectations of what I would find in China: the finest silk and as well as all sort of craftmen working in the streets. Read the rest of this entry »

accessories, beijing, decoration, Shanghai