Faced with losing the lease on their iconic flagship location in Central’s Pedder building, (ousted by an absurd bid by Abercrombie & Fitch,) Shanghai Tang has proven once again that they’re resourceful and innovative.

In a stroke of retailing brilliance, the brand has opened up shop in a series of Mongolian gers (which are large round tents,) on the rooftop of the Lamma Island ferry pier in Central.

Not only interesting to look at, with geometric patterns painted on the sides, the gers also provide a unique and fun shopping experience. Patrons explore by walking from tent to tent, browsing different categories in each, such as women’s wear, men’s wear etc..

The interiors have been immaculately furnished, with great attention to detail, matching Shanghai Tang’s signature style.

Despite a light rain on Tuesday night, there was a large turnout for the opening that comfortably filled the tents with people.

After perusing the merchandise, the majority of guests gathered under a large back tent to socialize and admire the spectacle of the gers surrounded by Hong Kong’s high-rise landscape. Several Mongolian performers roamed about, though they didn’t get to perform a big show due to the rain.

The night was very successful, as was the concept. The gers make the collections easy to digest, and the circular spaces are fun to browse.

The Shanghai Tang Mongolian Village will be open daily until December 31st.

Shanghai Tang Mongolian Village
Rooftop, Lamma Island Ferry, Pier 4 (walking distance from IFC Mall.)
Central, Hong Kong

Open daily until December 31st, 2011

The interior of a ger, cleared out for the opening party

The iconic Shanghai Tang flagship in the Pedder Building

Was it the lure of fashion darling Olivier Theyskens or something else that packed Lane Crawford, Canton Road last Wednesday night? Though the store went against conventional wisdom by holding the reception on Kowloon-side, (during the height of rush hour!) the entire space was buzzing with Hong Kong’s most sought after names.

The crowd reflected the city’s new social vanguard, tai-tai’s were greatly outnumbered by Hong Kong’s young, cosmopolitan class. The sprawling store, which recently underwent a renovation, was packed end-to-end with fashionable professionals who personified the target of the Theory brand.

As we have noted before, Lane Crawford has been a catalyst for change in Hong Kong. They have worked aggressively at cultivating the same type of scene you will find in major fashion capitals around the world. Events like Wednesday’s Theyskens’ Theory launch prove the extent of their success.

What was it like inside the event?

Lane Crawford’s gatherings indicate that Hong Kong that is now assuming a role in Asia once solely occupied by Tokyo.

As China has become the top consumer of luxury goods, Hong Kong’s position as China’s shopping capital has made the city seem like the center of the universe.

The speed at which information now travels has created a demand even for fledgling fashion labels. Young brands and designers are interested in international sales and Lane Crawford has positioned itself as the fulcrum for entering the China market.

The multilevel store uses a forest of abstract vertical shapes to divide the large open space.

Several life-long Hong Kong residents in the room remarked that they had never set foot in the Tsim Sha Tsui branch before. Though often snubbed by Hong Kong Islanders who have three of their own Lane Crawford branches to choose from, the truth is that Canton Road may now be the most dazzling high-end shopping area in the city. Even upon leaving the Theyskens event, there was still a twenty person line outside of Chanel!

A little background on Theory and Theyskens’ Theory

Theory represents the brilliant pairing of a no-nonsense fashion industry veteran, Andrew Rosen, and a critically acclaimed designer, Olivier Theyskens. Undermined by belt tightening at his previous posts, Olivier Theyskens joined forces with Andrew Rosen and lent his celebrated designer touch to the Theory line. His signature collection, Theyskens’ Theory, has benefited from the infrastructure provided by joining an existing, well-run fashion operation. Joining Theory has spared him the need to start from scratch to build distribution channels or develop production facilities, and instead Theyskens can focus on his design strengths.

Darren Emerson, a legendary DJ and former member of the British band Underworld, will be playing at a special event by Japanese brands Moussy and SLY on Thursday, October 20th.

In addition to putting out one of the biggest hits of the 90′s – “Born Slippy,” on the soundtrack to the movie Trainspotting, Darren Emerson has also worked with The Chemical Brothers, Depeche Mode and Björk.

Moussy and SLY are two well known Japanese labels that have been rapidly expanding in Hong Kong and China. They are part of the Japanese “Real Clothes” movement, which embraces local, domestic designers that are both stylish and affordable.

The brands have gained widespread popularity in part due to their prominence in Japanese fashion magazines such as Vivi, CanCam, and JJ. Moussy and SLY have become influential with young women in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and most recently, urban China.

You can read more about Moussy and SLY here and here.

Underworld’s “Born Slippy”

Moussy & SLY present DJ Darren Emerson
Thursday, October 20th, 2011
Hyde
2-3/F, 1 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central, Hong Kong

From 11pm til late
$250 HKD includes one drink

Opening not one, but two splashy flagship stores recently, Hong Kong’s I.T Ltd. is making its case for top fashion retailer in greater China.

The city’s Causeway Bay neighborhood, an international shopping mecca, is home to the new One Hysan I.T flagship store. The launch, which took place on April 26th, included spotlights illuminating the sky, and an overflow crowd of celebrities and fashion folk.

As confetti littered the nearby streets, multiple performances took place inside, entertaining a steady stream of guests.

The line to enter curled for over one block!

The side-shows for the night included some H.K. firsts, such as living toy-soldiers; a boxing match; a crystal ball reader; tap dancers and light-writing, to name just a few of the attractions.

The four-story shop has a circular design on the two top floors, with alcove-like boutiques off of the main concourse. The mini-boutiques are occupied by brands such as Beauty & Youth by United Arrows, and Journal Standard. One corner of the building is dedicated to A Bathing Ape, the company’s recent foreign acquisition.

Strong ties to Japanese fashion leaders

As we have mentioned before, I.T has a very strong relationship with an array of top Japanese brands, covering everything from casual wear all the way up to high fashion. This collaboration now extends deeper into China with the opening of the new I.T Beijing Market. The word ‘market’ in the store’s name reflects the collaboration with designer Rei Kawakubo, whose London-based Dover Street Market is a famous multi-brand wonderland.

The I.T Beijing Market is a stand-alone building in Beijing’s Sanlitun neighborhood.

It occupies a prominent location inside the luxury ghetto of the thriving Village shopping development. Sleek and contemporary, it bears a heavy Japanese high-fashion influence.

Inside the building is an expansive selection of Comme des Garcons collections, with additional brands displayed, all utilizing an equally creative layout. Similar to Hong Kong, A Bathing Ape has its own store, located in the lower section of the building.

For more information on I.T, check out our post about their 20th anniversary, or their fashion show at The One.

I.T One Hysan flagship store
1 Hysan Avenue
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

I.T Beijing Market
1/F-4/F, N5, Village North, Sanlitun Village,
No.11 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
Beijing, China

Japanese brands Moussy and SLY packed the SML restaurant in Causeway Bay on Wednesday night for a fashion show titled “Dream Travel.” Check out photos from the show and a video of the finale!

With balloons hanging from the ceiling, and lights coloring the atmosphere, the space reminded me a little of the prom scene from the classic horror film “Carrie.” (Perhaps I just had Halloween on my mind!)

The show was divided into two sets, and the area near the runway was wall-to-wall people.

In 2006 we covered the first Moussy fashion show in Hong Kong, and it was a splashy affair!

Here’s the finale from “Dream Travel”:

Top models, Elli-Rose and Chikako Watanabe, well known to fans of the influential Japanese magazine ViVi, headlined a fashion show in Tsim Sha Tsui on Friday, October 9th. The show was organized by prominent Hong Kong retailer i.t and showcased mostly Japanese labels.

In addition to the ViVi models from Japan, local favorites such as Cara G. and Jessica C., also participated. Check out the video!

The event took place at The One, a brand new high-rise shopping center located at 100 Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Guests packed into Miyabi (normally a Japanese restaurant) on the 18th floor, and spilled out onto a wrap-around balcony that offered stunning views of the Hong Kong skyline.

The brands featured in the fashion show included the Japanese labels: EMODA, Heaven and Earth, Love Boat, Murua, Love Girls Market, Royal Party and Spiral Girl. Izzue and Katie Judith appeared as well.

Though I.T is well known for high fashion, this event featured affordable brands targeted at girls and young women. The labels showcased are popular at Shibuya 109, a legendary shopping center in Tokyo, that caters to the same demographic.

The models, Elli-Rose and Chikako, have gained widespread notoriety through their affiliation with ViVi Magazine. The two special guests had a style of ‘walk’ that was visibly different from the other girls. Their presence on the stage was much more animated and less sedate than a typical show. It was more girlie, included more smiling, more dancing, and was less dry than your average luxury brand walk. Elli and Chikako do fashion mega-events in Japan, such as the Tokyo Girls Collection, which attracts over 20,000 audience members!

From the Hong Kong corner, Cara G. also added a little playfulness to her walk, much to the delight of the crowd.

The clothing styles within ViVi magazine, as well as the makeup techniques of the girls are emulated by legions of fans in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. ViVi models like Elli-Rose pack celebrity status, which makes their inclusion in a fashion show in Hong Kong attention getting and exciting for their followers.

Elli-Rose has a unique look and charisma, working both as a model and performing as a popular d.j.. You can check out her blog, and her d.j. Van Cliffe.d MySpace page.

Here are additional photos from the i.t “Sexy N’ Rock” show!

Celebrated fashion designer Phillip Lim made an appearance at Lane Crawford on October 7th, to host a special preview for a project called 4X3.1.

The project, which is a collaboration between Phillip Lim’s 3.1 brand and Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford, is comprised of four short films shot by four “new generation creative talents.”

The partnership with Lim is consistent with Lane Crawford’s strategy of building an alliance with every emerging star in contemporary fashion.

The preview event, hosted at the IFC flagship, was conceived to have fashion fans meet the young designer in person. A section of Lane Crawford was converted into a gallery space just for the occasion.

Still images hung on the walls and video highlights played in the background as the filmmakers and designer mingled with the crowd.

Victoria Tang with her entry in the 4X3.1 project

In the 4X3.1 series, each film represents a different city. The directors include Victoria Tang for Hong Kong; Rain Li for Beijing; Elle Muliarchyk for New York; and Yi Zhou for Paris. The images on display were tantalizing. Are the films any good?

Find out on October 9th, when they premiere online.

From 7pm until nearly 9, Phillip Lim posed for photos and had brief conversations with a steady parade of fans. Guests were treated to ‘jun ju lai cha‘ (bubble tea,) served in shot glasses, along with champagne. (It’s almost as if someone was reading Hong Kong Hustle!)

The crowd was adult and well behaved. No one attempted to corner the designer and attendees weren’t as celebrity-crazed as when the Olsen Twins visited!

Jun Takahashi is half performance artist and half mad scientist when it comes to creating his dolls. He frequently spins around inspecting his handiwork and the placement of furry material. Sometimes he picks up whole sections and starts rapidly sewing with long pulls of the thread.

Saturday night there was a large crowd gathered watching and snapping photos as the noted Japanese fashion designer (along with two assistants,) worked. Some of the onlookers stood captivated, while others shot a quick glance at the trio before continuing on.

Encouraged by a live soundtrack of sometimes striking music (by Kan Takagi and Fran-Key,) it took nearly two hours to assemble a ‘Grace’ (as Jun Takahashi calls them.) What are they made of?

It starts with a few metal pieces that resemble a microphone stand.

Attached to that base are two thin wires with outstretched hands.

The other main ingredient seems to be Teddy bears! There were plenty of discarded Teddy bear heads laying on the ground, indicating that the process uses only the body.

In place of a face, the top center of the Grace is a (working!) light bulb, similar to a bicycle light. Apart from two floppy ears, the bulb serves as the only facial feature. This time around, the Grace had a sort of Victorian Gothic style and was accessorized with diamond jewelry including an ornate necklace. It also featured a diadem or wreath of flowers on its head.

This isn’t the first time Jun Takahashi has unleashed his dolls on Hong Kong’s fashion folk. We’ve covered two previous occasions here and here.

What’s it all about?
It’s not common for the center of an event to be something as slow moving as doll construction, which begs the question – what exactly does the designer want us to get from these performances? Below are a few theories!

Maybe Jun Takahashi just likes the satisfaction of creating a doll? Unlike designing a season of clothing, (which takes a huge amount of time from start to finish,) creating a doll gives him a sense of satisfaction and can be completed within a few hours.

A large crowd was watching as he worked…

Perhaps doll making offers insight into his creative process – a system of taking things apart and reassembling them in an all together new form. Maybe he’s looking to inspire people to take a sort of alchemist’s approach to design?

On an entirely different level, it’s refreshing to have an event that isn’t overtly about selling you something. Though the motive for the night was the launch of two new fragrances, it was a very soft sell. The two hour doll creation session seemed to emphasize craft over commerce.

Fran-Key on the keyboards!

Perhaps it’s about sharing. Rarely in our contemporary urban society do people witness the act of creation. Particularly in Hong Kong, we live in a world of instant acquisition, with little or no exposure to the process of how things are made. Most people for example, only know the end product of fashion. Maybe the concept is about exposing a captive audience to share in the wonder of making something?

This Friday the 23rd, Diesel is holding an in-store event to celebrate their Spring Summer 2010 denim collection. Titled ‘Sex Sells,” it features racy, charged photos by photographer Miko Lim.

Getting into the spirit of the campaign, Diesel will transform their main window on Queens Road Central into a ‘peep show’ to tantalize attendees (and unwitting passersby,) with their new denim line. Tunes for the night will be supplied by d.j. Miss Yellow.

Diesel’s invitation summarizes the event as: “Come hang, get boozed up, eat hot dogs and gawk at models!” Also on hand will be some sort of campaign-themed game with naughty Diesel toys as prizes…
 
Diesel – Sex Sells
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
From 6:00 to 9pm
Diesel Planet (Flagship) Store

20 Queens Road Central

Central, Hong Kong
Free

Outside of film premieres and similar functions, it’s rare to see mega-stars such as Andy Lau in person. So it came as something of a surprise to see the legendary actor / singer twice in one day last week.

I first caught a glimpse of Andy Lau alongside Mainland model Du Juan and fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto during the christening of a new Y-3 shop in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The K11 “art mall”, the site of the new shop, was crowded with fans jostling for photos from the balconies.

After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, the actor and other celebrities posed for a few shots inside the store.

Andy Lau’s fans pressed up against the windows of the shop just to catch a look!

The celebration continued later that night with a fashion show and party at the Hong Kong Exhibition Center.

Unexpectedly, Andy Lau also made an appearance at the show. Stars of his caliber almost never attend these type of events.

Local party-goers were somewhat shocked to see him. As a testament to his enduring star-power, most of the people in the VIP section swarmed the area where he was sitting. (If you’re in the VIP section, aren’t you at least supposed to pretend to be cool?)

It’s no wonder stars on that level don’t attend events more frequently. It can’t be any fun to have random people pointing cameras at you every second. In heavily attended nightlife events, it also represents a logistical nightmare to provide security and facilitate a smooth entry and exit.

The Exhibition Center is a great space for a party. There are few buildings with such a large open floor plan.

When the fashion show began, Andy Lau crept up behind me to have a look. (I knew there must have been some reason for the cameras suddenly aiming at me!)