Nicely Made in China

News on China quality products, lifestyle, design and services.

CULTURAL EVOLUTION – CHINA 2005 – 2010 / photography by Lionel Derimais / Text by Mary Kay Magistad

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Hello again dear Nicely Made in China readers, 

It’s been a while, I know.  I do hope you are all safe and well as the whole world is in the middle of a second tumultuous year.  Like many of you, I’ve used my time to complete a project close to my heart.  Some of you may know that besides producing the NMiC blog since 2009, I am first and foremost a working professional photographer. 

Today I am pleased to announce that after years of preparation, I am launching a book of photographs called “Cultural Evolution China 2005-2010”.  It is now available for sale via my website – please click on this link to buy the book. Texts in the book (essay, biographies, captions) are in 3 languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin) and French.   

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KHUNU / YAK WOOL LATEST KNITWEAR PRODUCTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2014

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Christmas is upon us – a very cold winter is predicted! – and Nicely Made in China (NMiC) has asked Khunu’s founder Julian Wilson what his company has in store to keep us warm in the coming months. New accessories have arrived – beanies, pompom hats, scarves – plus the classic and timeless sweaters all in pure yak wool from the Tibetan plateau.

For our readers who don’t know Khunu, the first article we wrote about it is here.

www.khunu.com

For her: This scarf is knitted using a highly textured seed stitch and is available in plain and marled colour options using mostly non-dyed yarns. Warm, natural and extremely cosy. 
Gift for him and for her: For cold feet these mid-length versatile outdoor socks. Composed of 56% yak wool and very comfortable – check Khunu website for full composition. Great resistance to odour.
For her: Traditional knit which originated on Fair Isle, a remote island off the north coast of Scotland. Using neutral and mostly non-dyed yarns we’ve combined one of the island’s classic pattern with a heavy knit to create a versatile infinity scarf that can be adapted to a wide variety of uses, and will be super cozy this winter.
For him: The houndstooth pattern originates from the Scottish Lowlands, and has become a classic pattern for both woven and knit wear.
Unisex: The traditional ribbed knit and pompom create a classic winter look that works equally well for boys and girls.
Unisex: The beanies are made from pure yak yarn knitted in using a garter stitch edged with a dense rib finish.
For him: Shawl collars are a dashing and versatile way to keep warm during the winter.
For her: Our latest incarnation of the Travel Wrap is made from 100% pure yak wool sourced from the Tibetan plateau. The black and natural grey yarns are woven together to give a beautiful two-toned texture and a finish that feels both soft and warm.

For her: The latest Khunu women’s sweater is made from luxurious 90% yak wool and 10% silk yarn for a beautiful handle and great comfort.

 

WHAT’S NEW? KATRIN REINFURT MPMP FASHION DESIGN

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We wish you a happy new year of the horse!  You may have noticed that we recently had a break from publishing in order to take stock and revitalize our efforts.  Now we’re back and glad to continue bringing you news about quality products and services from China.

At Nicely Made in China (NMiC) we like to keep track of the companies we’ve featured in the past.  So, to begin this Nicely Made in China 2.0 we caught up with Katrin Reinfurt in Paris.  An emerging talent in the fashion world with her brand Magnetosphere Prospecting and Monitoring Program (MPMP), Katrin (normally Beijing-based) was at Paris Fashion show collaborating with Walter van Beirendonck no less!

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THIRCUIR BOOKS / PUBLISHING

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This week Nicely Made in China looks at publishing, a first for us. Jeremie Thircuir, a French-born entrepreneur, created Thircuir Books in 2011, with a mission to introduce Chinese photographers to the world. We asked him a few questions about the how and why of the venture.

Jeremie, what is Thircuir Books?

Thircuir Editions publishes contemporary photography books by leading Chinese photographers and artists who use photography.

How long have you been in China and when did you create Thircuir Books?

I arrived in China in 2006 after studying economics at the Sorbonne in Paris – I headed off as soon as I received my diploma. My goal was to work in the art world. I believed that cultural development would follow economic development….and so it has turned out. First I worked for a Taiwanese gallery and then for a year for Art+ in Shanghai.  I moved to Beijing in 2008 where I worked for Piech Art, founded by Anton and Xenia Piech. In January 2011 I created my own publishing house – Thircuir Books.

Why create a publishing house in China?

My objective was to give Westerners some tools and keys to understanding China – to make China more accessible.  I think that outside of the country, people have a muddled vision of China, be it on an economic or political level. The books I publish can be seen as a showcase for creativity in China as well as also shedding light on the reality of the country. The photographs are presented in a way that gives insight into the life and work of each artist.

How many books have you published so far and what’s your initial print run?

We started off by publishing 5 books at the same time and now we have 6 on offer, with another 4 ready to launch. Each book consists of 96 pages, and with an initial print run of 6,000 copies, they are priced at £8.90 or US$12.90.

Which photographers are featured?

In China right now, there are many different artistic movements, and I like to think our books illustrate that richness and diversity. Among the photographers we’ve published so far are Song Chao and Yang Yong. Song Chao’s black and white portraits of Chinese miners represent a type of social documentary, whilst Yang Yong’s photographs of young Chinese women in Shenzhen show us a kind of artificial world. Then there is Liu Bolin, already known to many people through his project “Hidden in the city”.

Let’s talk about the printing technique. What type of ink do you use for instance?

We use soya-based inks, as they give much more precise colors. All our books are made of natural papers with U.V. filters which gives a beautiful smooth finish making people want to stroke our books.

Where can Nicely Made in China readers buy Thircuir books?

NMiC readers can buy our books in selected bookstores and major online retailer like Amazon. Check out retailers near where you live: www.thircuir.com

TRANQUIL TUESDAYS / CHINESE TEA & TEA SET GIFTS

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The simple pleasure of a cup of tea can be a very welcome break from the frenetic pace of life. But how to know which tea is best, when there are hundreds to choose from: Lapsang Souchong, Pu’er, Oolong, white tea, green tea…and so on. Nicely Made in China’s (NMiC) guest this week is Charlene Wang, a Californian of Chinese origin. She’s a tea aficionado and the founder of Tranquil Tuesdays, a new player in the world of tea merchants. She has taken it upon herself to bring the best tea leaves from China to the thirsty world.

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MPMP / FASHION DESIGN

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2 years ago, armed with a masters degree from the Vienna University of Applied Arts, Kathrin Reinfurth headed off to Beijing.  There she created fashion brand MPMP – it stands for Magnetosphere Prospecting and Monitoring Program. Today she’s mixing art, science and fashion and exhibits her creations in China and in Europe. Nicely Made in China (NMiC) spoke to Katrin about her experiences and what she’s bringing to fashion design.

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C.L.MA CLASSICAL FURNITURE MUSEUM & WORKSHOP

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Much has been lost in China’s rush for modernity, but Nicely Made in China’s guest this week, Mr Kele Ma, proves the exception. He has devoted his life to salvaging countless pieces of beautifully handcrafted ancient furniture which can now be seen at the museum he recently opened in Tianjin.

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NICELY MADE IN CHINA’S « EXPERT’S CORNER »: TRAVELS

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Spring is here! And at Nicely Made in China (NMiC) it’s around this time of year that we get itchy feet! A trip, be it on horseback in far flung lands or a stay at auntie’s beach bungalow, needs careful preparation: tickets have to be booked and the right clothes have to be packed. We spoke to NMiC’s partner Serge Pierrard, CEO of Beijing-based Travel Stone (travel agency specialised in the Far-East and China) about the dos and don’ts for a memorable trip.

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NLGX DESIGN – STREETWEAR

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Every day thousands of brands are launched onto the world market, among them, an increasing number from emerging countries. This week Nicely Made in China (NMiC) is happy to give centre stage to NLGX, a new Chinese street-wear brand. Created in 2008 by Michel Sutyadi and Ed Hung, NLGX recently opened a store at Beijing’s Capital Airport Terminal 3 and is about to open another one. Quite an achievement for such a young brand, and so to help NMiC learn more, we interviewed Michel Sutyadi.

 

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TANG’ROULOU / CHILDREN & BABY CLOTHES

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If you live in Northern China, chances are that on a cold winter’s day you’ve bought ‘tang hu lu’, those little skewers of toffee smothered fruits. But there’s another ‘tang hu lu’:  Tang’Roulou (written phonetically), is a Chinese company created by French-born Amélie Peraud in 2004 which has in 7 years become synonymous with ‘made in China’ quality children and baby clothes and accessories. Read the rest of this entry »