FASHION | Nicely Made in China

CREATIVCULTURE – ONLINE DESIGN CONTEST

juillet 13th, 2011 Posted in BEIJING, DESIGN, FASHION, GARMENTS, INITIATIVE, PHOTOGRAPHY / ART

juil, 13 2011

: CreativCulture latest winner is called Sweet Child.

: Dong Li Jun (董丽珺) working on the latest delivery of T-shirts in CreativCulture’s Beijing offices.

: The June 2011 designs on CreativCulture T-shirts.

: Daniel Meller, CreativCulture founder and driving force. He’s set himself the mission of promoting Chinese creativity!

« Creative » and « Creativity » are words heard every time we turn on the TV or read a newspaper, be it in China or around the world. Chinese creativity is the particular issue that California-born Daniel Meller has decided to promote with his present endeavour. Now based in Beijing, he sells T-shirts printed with designs created by Chinese and others. In a recent interview with Nicely Made in China (NMiC) he explains how his company, CreativCulture, works. Read the rest of this entry »

beijing, DESIGN, fashion

OZARK – OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT

juin 7th, 2011 Posted in BEIJING, GARMENTS, SPORT

juin, 07 2011

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: Mr Hans Schallenberger, Ozark founder and managing director photographed in his Hong Kong office.

: A Chinese mountain guide trains with Olivier Balma – China Mountain Development Institute’s technical director – wearing an Ozark polaire fleece jacket and backpack on the South ridge of the « glacier blanc » peak in the Massif des Écrins in the Hautes-Alpes department in France. (Ph.Olivier Balma)

: An aspiring Chinese mountain guide wearing an Ozark down jacket in the Mount Bogda base camp in the Bogda Ola range in Xinjiang, Western China. (Ph.Olivier Balma)

: Nicely Made in China tents by Ozark in the Bogda Ola range in Xingjiang, Western China. (Ph.Olivier Balma)

If, having read last week’s article on travel company Global Nomad, you decided to go trekking, you may find you need some of the equipment produced by today’s guest, Swiss-born Hans Schallenberger! Nicely Made in China (NMiC) has found the perfect brand for you. Started 15 years ago but still barely known beyond China, Ozark [website in Chinese] sells outdoor gear exclusively to the Chinese market. NMiC talked to Mr Schallenberger, Ozark’s founder and managing director, to discover what has made the brand such a success story. Read the rest of this entry »

beijing, fashion, outdoor

INNOVASIANS / ECO FRIENDLY PRODUCTS

avril 27th, 2011 Posted in ACCESSORIES, GREEN PRODUCTS, HONG KONG

avr, 27 2011

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: Innovasians owner, South Africa-born Lizette Smook, photographed wearing eco-towels, one of her star product. (Ph.Edmon Leong)

: This colorful dinnerware is made of a mix of rice husk (or rice hulls) and bamboo!

: The eco-friendly substitute for the rubber content of golf balls is a water-soluble polymer (polyvinyl alcohol). These balls are non-toxic, 100% water soluble and fully biodegradable.

This week Nicely Made in China (NMiC) goes green with Innovasians, a company which provides other companies with green solutions to their problems. Founded by Cape Town-born Lizette Smook, Innovasians has been around for just 4 years. Despite a busy schedule, Lizette found time for a chat with NMiC. Read the rest of this entry »

GREEN, hong kong

IGUZZINI WATCHES

février 23rd, 2011 Posted in ACCESSORIES, HONG KONG, LUXURY, SHANGHAI, WATCHES

fév, 23 2011

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: Stephane Michel who since 2007, with his brother Lander, has given a new lease of life to Federico Iguzzini Watches. He wears the OM watch from the Spiritual line.

: The Lunar Explorer Chronograph from Iguzzini Watches retails for US$ 4,200 and is limited to 50 pieces.

: The Old Shanghai caseback. The watch retails for US$ 3,500 and is limited to 50 pieces.

China is now the world’s third largest market for the consumption of luxury goods, behind the US and Japan. And according to some studies, by 2015, it will have become the largest! Today the luxury goods come mainly from foreign brands, but things are changing with the steady emergence of home-grown brands. Iguzzini Watches is one of these. Originally created in 1903 in Shanghai by Italian Federico Iguzzini, the company closed its doors around the middle of the 20th century. Fast forward to early 21st century when two Franco-Mexican brothers, Stephane and Lander Michel, on hearing about Mr Iguzzini’s story, decided to buy the name and give the company a new lease of life. Read the rest of this entry »

accessories, hong kong, watches

KHUNU / YAK WOOL KNITWEAR

février 16th, 2011 Posted in BEIJING, CRAFTS, FASHION, SPORT

fév, 16 2011

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: Julian Wilson and Aaron Pattillo the two Khunu founders with yaks in the background on the Himalayan plateau.

: A nomad woman at work, cleaning the yak wool.

: A nomad on the Tibetan plateau with her herd of yaks.

: A Khunu sweater – Alexandra, ribbed knit and cowl neck, comes in 3 different colors.

Winter can be very cold and very long in the North of China! In its search for the perfect sweaters to keep warm, Nicely Made in China has come across Khunu, a young brand which deserves attention. Created by Julian Wilson, an ex-British army officer and Aaron Pattillo, who used to work as a manager for the Clinton Foundation, the company was created 18 months ago. Already, their sweaters are to be found on the shelves of fashionable stores in hip Swiss and Californian ski resorts. NMiC talked to Julian about finding the right wool and the challenges of living up to the expectations of nomads. Read the rest of this entry »

beijing, fashion

SHULONG SNEAKERS

février 8th, 2011 Posted in ACCESSORIES, FASHION, SHANGHAI, SHOES, SPORT

fév, 08 2011

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: Alexandre Lagneau, Shulong designer and Brice Genin, Shulong General Manager.

: Shulong’s special « sponge » that gives the shoes its comfort and provides elasticity.

: A model with the denim Shulong.

: A very popular model called « Your Shu »: it comes with about 50 transfers that can be applied on the shoes with an iron.

Chinese sneakers are making a remarkable come back on the world fashion scene with a few historical brands competing for attention. Shulong is not a historical brand but its shoes come from a long tradition of shoe making. The company has been on the market for only 3 years and Nicely Made in China wanted to know more about it. Brice Genin, Shulong general manager, accepted to talk to us to explain to our readers how Shulong mixes something old – the classic Chinese sneaker- with the new technologies to turn it into a successful product. Read the rest of this entry »

fashion, Shanghai, shoes

MARION CARSTEN / JEWELLERY

novembre 26th, 2010 Posted in ACCESSORIES, CITIES, CRAFTS, FASHION, JEWELLERY, SHANGHAI

nov, 26 2010

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: Marion Carsten photographed in Paris is a German goldsmith who created Marion Carsten Jewelery in Shanghai.

: Marion Carsten’s mixed elements pearl necklace made of sterling silver, rhodium plated, freshwater pearls, conch shells.

: A Marion Carsten’s creation: red bracelet of the Shou collection made of sterling silver, rhodium plated, resin.

: A ring from the Shou -or Long Life – collection made of sterling silver rhodium plated.

This week Nicely Made in China (NMiC) features Marion Carsten. Marion, a goldsmith from Frankfurt, moved to China in 2000. After a few years there, she moved to Bangkok and recently to Paris where NMiC caught up with her. She talked about square pearls, what inspires her work and how to manage a company in China from Europe. Read the rest of this entry »

accessories, JEWELLERY, Shanghai

SUZHOU COBBLERS

octobre 30th, 2010 Posted in CITIES, CRAFTS, FASHION, HANDMADE, SHANGHAI, SHOES

oct, 30 2010

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: Denise Huang, Suzhou Cobblers’s owner and designer.

: The good looking rooster embroidered on the Good Morning slippers.

: Everything is made at Suzhou Cobblers studio.

: The Suzhou Cobblers shop at 17 Fuzhou road in Shanghai.

: Nicely Made in China mules by Suzhou Cobblers.

: A model with embroidered peonies by Suzhou Cobblers.

: Every pair of shoes is handmade by embroiderers who work from home in the Suzhou area.

: Every pair of shoes by Suzhou Cobblers is handmade and unique.

This week Nicely Made in China stays in Shanghai to introduce its second -but very different- shoe designer: Denise Huang owner and designer of Suzhou Cobblers moved back to Shanghai from Hong Kong in 2003 with a business idea. Denise kindly accepted to answer a few questions from NMiC and talked about tradition, modernity and a good looking rooster. Read the rest of this entry »

accessories, fashion, Shanghai, shoes

MARY CHING / SHOES

octobre 22nd, 2010 Posted in CITIES, CRAFTS, FASHION, SHANGHAI, SHOES

oct, 22 2010

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: Alison Mary Ching Yeung, the « Louboutin of Shanghai » according to ELLE.

: Mrs Pandora shoes in red cashmere, red suede and leopard pony.

: The Christine from the Orient Erotica collection.

: The Manta from the Mary Ching Orient Erotica collection.

: The Hazel from the Orient Erotica collection.

: The Guilin from the Orient-Express collection.

: Alison Mary Ching Yeung working in her Shanghai studio.

: Alison likes to mix different materials.

This week Nicely Made in China (NMiC) is happy to feature its first shoe designer. Londoner, Alison Mary Ching Yeung, half-Chinese, half-British, created the brand Mary Ching in 2009 in Shanghai . On her way to becoming the « Louboutin of Shanghai » (according to French fashion magazine ELLE) Mary Ching has become in a short time a much sought after brand by fashionistas in China and beyond. It has already caught the eye of stars such as Beyonce, Cameron Diaz and Zhang Ziyi. In a fast-paced phone interview, Alison tells NMiC what drove her to design shoes. Read the rest of this entry »

accessories, fashion, Shanghai, shoes

RECHENBERG COUTURE

octobre 2nd, 2010 Posted in BEIJING, CITIES, FASHION, HANDMADE

oct, 02 2010

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: « rechenberg » fashion show in Beijing Aman hotel. Kathrin is 5th from the left.

: Kathrin keeps an eye on every detail in her workshop.

: Kathrin photographed at her April 2010 fashion show in Beijing.

: A « rechenberg » model during Kathrin’s September 2009 fashion show at Aman Beijing.

: A worker in « rechenberg » workshop in Beijing.

: Kathrin gives her last instruction to a model during the September 2009 fashion show in Beijing Summer Palace.

: A model at the Summer Palace fashion show in September 2009.

: Kathrin von Rechenberg’s Beijing studio in Xin Yuan Xi Li.

This week Nicely Made in China stays in Beijing to introduce Kathrin von Rechenberg, owner and designer of “rechenberg » the fashion house. The 40 year-old Bavarian and mother of three has taken a winding path from her “début” at the Paris fashion house Jacques Fath in the 90’s to her arrival in Beijing, via Taiwan, in 2000. We sat in her Beijing studio to discuss Paris fashion houses, material and lost traditions. Read the rest of this entry »

beijing, fashion