Meet the co-founder of Hermes-backed luxury lifestyle brand Shang Xia
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Come across the co-founder of Hermes-backed luxury lifestyle brand Shang Xia
A Shang Xia pop-up will open in Takashimaya in December, and there are plans to open a permanent shop as well. Jiang Qiong Er, the label's CEO and Artistic Director, tells CNA Luxury what Singaporeans tin expect.
Jiang Qiong Er, CEO and Artistic Managing director of Shang Xia. (Photo: Jeff Cheong)
22 Nov 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 21 May 2022 04:51PM)
The perception of "fabricated in Communist china" has shifted in recent years. While the label is nevertheless some ways abroad from being regarded with the aforementioned cachet as, say, "made in Japan" or "made in France", brands similar Shang Xia ("up and downward" in Mandarin) are slowly but surely altering the status quo.
Backed by the financial musculus of Hermes, the label began life in 2008 thanks to a chance meet betwixt one Jiang Qiong Er and Patrick Thomas, then-CEO of Hermes. In the spirit of the French maison, the idea was to tap into the skillset of Prc's artisans to craft products imbued with the same quality, attention to detail, design sensibility and composure that Hermes is known for.
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With China amend known for mass production than high quality craftsmanship at the time, the idea was so novel that it immediately resonated. In 2010, the company opened its offset boutique along Shanghai's Huaihai Middle Route, in the centre of the French Concession.
In the decade that followed, stores opened in Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Hong Kong and Paris. A Singapore outpost will open in 2020, although its location is all the same to be confirmed. In the meantime, fans of Shang Xia can head to a popular-up at #01-112, Takashimaya Section Store. The pop-up will remain open up from December 4, 2022 to February ix, 2020. Ahead of the launch, Jiang gives CNA Luxury an insight into her stewardship of the brand, and why she thinks Singaporeans will take to information technology.
SHANG XIA WAS FOUNDED IN 2008, AND OPENED ITS FIRST BOUTIQUE IN SHANGHAI IN 2010. WHAT ARE YOU PROUDEST OF IN ITS 10 YEARS OF EXISTENCE?
Of creating the make from scratch, finding a distinctive style, and building up our supply base of excellent craftsmen. In the early years we visited a lot of workshops. There are still some masters and craftsmen existing, but no management or existent process, no supply chain with quality standards. They could produce one piece, but not 50. We spent 10 years accompanying the artisans to evaluate, improve, and move forward. I'm proudest of SHANG XIA equally a brand. Each and every product is like my own child.
HOW HAS SHANG XIA Developed THIS Past DECADE?
We started with four product ranges – garments, accessories, piece of furniture, and homeware. Now we have v, as nosotros added leather goods. We're launching a new range in Beijing this month called Infinite Products. It's a total package life experience, designed with the room, article of furniture, and objects together. The future of luxury is not merely one object, only an emotion, an feel, a moment that you will keep remembering.
In our first decade, we focused on creating brand value, not revenue. The trend of the acquirement is of import, not the exact number. This year had most twoscore per cent growth compared to terminal year.
Nosotros opened a new shop in Shenzhen this year, with two more openings planned for 2020. We're also working on a different base of operations model which is not 100 per cent retail, only more feel-oriented.
For the future nosotros will keep working on beautiful objects, discovering excellent craftsmanship in Mainland china, and deepening our style. Nosotros'll as well focus on leading a real luxury feel.
"The future of luxury is not just one object, simply an emotion, an feel, a moment that yous will continue remembering." – Jiang Qiong Er
HOW IS SHANG XIA DOING AMID A Changing, CHALLENGING, FICKLE LUXURY MARKET?
The market place is irresolute, the people and generations are changing, merely there is always a abiding – Time and Emotion, ii things deeply rooted into SHANG XIA'southward DNA. We're not aiming to exist the trendiest, just instead use traditional handcrafts and contemporary blueprint to create a timeless style. Nosotros believe that people, whatsoever the historic period, whatever the nationality, and any the culture, are all looking for dazzler and love.
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WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF THE ARTS COME FROM?
My family unit. My grandpa was a famous artist since his 20s, doing what I'1000 doing now with SHANG XIA: Combining the heritage of aboriginal fine art with contemporary mod fine art, creating a beautiful run across between East and West. That he did it 100 years before I did, inspired me a lot. Too, my father and mother are both architects.
WHAT WERE YOUR GROWING Up YEARS LIKE?
I was built-in in Shanghai in the 1970s and lived in a traditional petty lane house. My brother and I helped our parents around the house, invented our own games, and started painting, doing calligraphy, travelling and creating in nature from a young historic period. We did lots of crafts at home. Life was very enriching and meaningful, full of beautiful memories.
My father was the architect for Shanghai Museum and did the renovation of The Bund. My mother [worked on] Shanghai libraries. Subsequently, we moved to a contemporary dwelling in a skyscraper, and two years ago, I moved to a garden villa. I'thousand lucky to witness how Shanghai has grown and changed and so much.
"When I was young I learned Chinese calligraphy with masters from China… My iii years in Paris invited a new blood into my body… What I'grand doing now with SHANG XIA is a result of this beautiful run across between the 2 cultures in which I lived." – Jiang Qiong Er
WHAT Do YOU LIKE MOST Almost SHANGHAI?
One of my favourite places is Xintiandi, a zone of old houses transformed into a lively neighbourhood where people dine out, meet friends, and savor the art of living. Information technology combines traditional Chinese Shikumen architecture with Western influences. I similar Shanghai Museum for its earth-renowned collections of bronzes and antiques. And my electric current home, located in a beautiful manor filled with greenery.
I visit France often for piece of work or holidays, and when I render to Shanghai I e'er feel its strong, positive, brilliant energy. This energy has existed over the decades, and continues to; that'south the magic of Shanghai. Also, it's very open-minded. At that place's e'er been a dialogue betwixt the Eastern and Western cultures.
Y'all SPENT SOME Time IN PARIS Likewise?
After graduating from Shanghai's Tongji University, I was supposed to do my Masters in the US, but a trip to Europe changed my decision. I told myself: "If you could go to Paris to study, if you could one 24-hour interval read a French volume in its original version, watch a movie in French, speak to the people in their own linguistic communication, what a rich learning experience you would have".
When I arrived in French republic aged 22, I didn't speak French. I spent a twelvemonth learning the language and the civilization at a small local university in Squeamish, majoring in French Literature from the 20th and 21st centuries. Information technology was very difficult in the beginning, simply I didn't want to attend linguistic communication school where yous're often with other English-speaking foreigners.
"I think emotions are the most precious things in the globe. I cannot feel the emotions from looking at a photo of a edifice or a masterpiece." – Jiang Qiong Er
A year later on, I passed the archway examination for the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Paris and enrolled there. Information technology wasn't just about academia, but the environment. There were so many exceptional things to see, interesting people to meet, and destinations to travel to.
I think emotions are the most precious things in the world. I cannot experience the emotions from looking at a photo of a building or a masterpiece. But sitting in Ronchamp, in the beautiful chapel designed by Corbusier, I felt those emotions. When I was in front of a famous painting, I understood the power of the painting.
When I was young I learned Chinese calligraphy with masters from China, and during my v years at Tongji, I discovered graphic design, architecture, product-, interior- and digital design. My 3 years in Paris invited a new claret into my body.
These two worlds were totally integrated into ane, allowing me to have a kind of global thinking and inventiveness. What I'm doing now with SHANG XIA is a event of this beautiful encounter between the two cultures in which I lived.
WHAT WAS YOUR Early ARTISTIC CAREER LIKE, Earlier YOU WERE INVITED TO Do HERMES WINDOW DISPLAYS?
I started my commencement pattern company when I was still a pupil at Tongji University together with ane of my professors. The year I graduated from Tongji, I received support from the founder of Xintiandi, Vincent Lau. This allowed me to create my ain brand of jewellery, fashion accessories and habitation items, and I opened my first shop in Xintiandi.
Then I went to Paris only continued to manage the brand from a distance. After I graduated in Paris, I started a company with Jean-Marie Charpentier, the famous French architect who designed the Shanghai Grand Theatre. Our company mainly focused on interior blueprint and branding. Hermes China was one of our clients. I also established my own gallery exhibiting antique article of furniture alongside my contemporary furniture creations. At that place was lots of regular exhibitions with artist friends, so I was quite busy.
WHAT Do You THINK SINGAPOREANS Will Appreciate About SHANG XIA?
It's a state with a mix of [Eastern] and Western cultural influences and Singaporeans are very open-minded – perfect for SHANG XIA. In the last ten years, nosotros've had many clients from Singapore who travel to Shanghai, Beijing, or even Paris to notice SHANG XIA.
"[Singapore is] a country with a mix of [Eastern] and Western cultural influences and Singaporeans are very open-minded – perfect for SHANG XIA. In the last 10 years, we've had many clients from Singapore who travel to Shanghai, Beijing, or fifty-fifty Paris to find SHANG XIA." – Jiang Qiong Er
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/people/shang-xia-singapore-176771
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