Posts with tag China

Ever feel like you're just about to crack? Maybe you feel like you just want to smash something. Well, there's always Sarah's Smash Shack for that, but what to do with all of the broken pieces afterwords? Marjorie Cunningham has the answer with her unique handcrafted jewelry made from recycled shards of broken china and porcelain.

Retail in China: it's all about the volume. Sir Philip Green, the owner of Topshop is all too aware of the potential profit once he gets there. Just to make sure he gets as much volume as possible, the rumor is that he asked Kate Moss to bring the lines she "designed" to China and be the face of the Topshop launch there.

Wow, in a very retro 90's way, we're totally psyched that Reebok has decided to bring back the pump. Not the ladies shoe, mind you, we're talking about the pump that allows middle schoolers to over-inflate their sneakers causing longterm damage (or was that an urban myth?). It's all part of Reebok's bid to climb out of the hole that they've been in since -- well, probably since the Pump-it-Up days.

Their new Yao Ming limited edition sneaker is being released in conjunction with Yao's appearance in this summer's Olympics, where he'll be representing China. Complete with fire-breathing dragons and traditional Chinese colors, these are probably the most elaborate pumps Reebok's ever made. The struggling athletic company hopes to use these mean-looking sneaks, and a media blitz targeting China's Yao pride, to gain a foothold in the world's largest emerging market. Only 2008 of these babies will be produced, and they'll run you about $150.

They're a bit flashy for out taste -- would you wear these out on the court?

Gallery: Yao Ming's Olympic Edition Pumps

[via BlackBook]

We told you that Ralph Lauren was chosen to outfit the 1,500 or so athletes representing the United States at this year's Olympics in Beijing, but we didn't realize that the patriotic designer was making a lineup for Team USA zealots. Now, we can show our support for our nation's athletes by shelling out $125 to Ralph Lauren for an official US 2008 polo shirt. Go capitalism!

If you happen to be one of those people who likes to wear polos that are absolutely covered in official-looking badges and symbols -- you're in luck. The Olympic Games Collection is pretty much covered up in embroidered junk. Honestly, we're really not so fond of that type of thing. We're especially not fond of the giant Chinese characters on the front of this shirt that translate to "Beijing." Put the Chinese characters for "America kicks ass," and we'll wear that shirt with pride. We might even get the slogan tattooed -- on our teeth.

[via SeeJackShop]

Now that China has become a major fashion -- as well as an economic -- force in the world, we think it's time to take a closer look at some of their street wear, starting with these awesome shoes. In addition to the fact that the Feiyue Shaolin sneaker is to the Chinese what the Converse All Star is to us in the States -- Kung Fu masters apparently love these old school canvas and rubber sneakers.

It's true, look it up. These very economical canvas sneakers have been a staple in China since the 20's and are sold all over the internet as Kung Fu accessories. We can't really see how they're particularly suited for martial arts, but we do think they'd make a great pair of summer shoes. We like the retro style, it's like a hybrid of the All Star and the PF Flyer -- which are both classic. The advantage with these babies is that they're way cheaper, and you probably won't run across anybody else who's wearing them.

[via SeeJackShop]

While retail sales in the US and Europe are slumping, China's consumer class is just hitting the scene -- and they're willing to shell out some serious money on fashion. Designers like Prada, Armani, and Louis Vuitton are having a bonanza with newly rich Chinese who are hungry for the status symbols of conspicuous consumption. Yet, there's also a rising demand for $10,000 cocktail dresses and brands like Hermes from the growing ultra-rich class.

Traditionally, the Chinese market has been mostly dominated by accessories because of the limited space in China's crammed shopping malls -- which has led to the ridiculous level of knock-offs and forgeries. But that trend is starting to shift as retailers are steadily getting access to space where they can branch out. Coach is planning to open 50 retail stores in the mainland this over the next few years and tons of others are on the same kind of track. As you can imagine, renting a prime location for you flagship store in Shanghai is a royal rip -- but apparently it's paying off big time.

China is the nation-state equivalent of what my friends call "The Mixed Message Guy." You what I'm talking about -- he's the man who makes you think he's totally interested only to disappear off the face of the earth a week later.

Not that this has ever happened to me before, but I digress...

The latest "Mixed Message Guy" clash between China's Communist government and its free-market private sector involves something we here in the west know and love: the push-up bra.

Believe it or not, a month before the upcoming Communist Party meeting in Beijing, the government has announced a ban on "saucy" ads for push-up bras and "figure-hugging underpants."

The unmentionables crackdown comes just days after the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television put the kibosh on "sexually provocative sounds" and sex toy ads featuring prominent celebrities. (What?!? Why don't we have these in the U.S.? After all, Jessica Simpson, would put her stamp of approval on just about anything that comes with royalties.)

While the advertising ban is likely a blow to the underwear industry, China's decision nonetheless perfectly illustrates a point that America has been trying to make for the last sixty years: Capitalism is way sexier than Communism!

[via Reuters]

Condoms, already one of the world's most useful products, are finding yet another way to work themselves into your life -- this time as clothing.

No longer merely a prophylactic, the latex products were recently featured at a fashion show sponsored by the 4th China Reproductive Health new Technologies & Products Expo. Models strutted up and down the catwalk in outfits constructed entirely of condoms, including bikinis, mini-dresses, suits -- even wedding dresses.

OK, so you probably won't see these on the racks of your local lifestyle boutique anytime soon, but these stylish garments are a nice reminder that wearing condoms is cool.

Need to do a little shopping? How about a lot of shopping, plus some eating, movie-watching, amusement-park-ing, and well, just about anything you can stick into multi-million square feet of mall space? If you happen to be traveling through Asia, you're in luck, because eight of the 10 largest malls on this planet are there, as listed by Forbes. In North America? You're out of luck unless you're in Edmonton, Canada, or Philadelphia's King of Prussia Mall. Still, both of those shrink in comparison to South China Mall, at a srawling 7.1 million square feet!

• South China Mall, Dongguan, China - 7.1 million square feet
• Golden Resources Shopping Mall, Beijing, China - 6 million square feet
  
• SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines - 4.2 million square feet
• West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta Canana - 3.8 (biggest in North America)
  
• SM Mega Mall, Mandaluyong City, Philippines - 3.6 million square feet
• Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 3.4 million square feet
  
• Beijing Mall, Beijing, China - 3.4 million square feet
• Zhengjia Mall, Guangzhou, China - 3 million square feet
  
• SM City North Edsa, Quezon City, Philippines - 3 million square feet
  
• King of Prussia Mall, Philadelphia, PA - 2.8 million square feet
  

You know that saying: East is East and West is West and ne'er that twain shall meet? (Was it Shakespeare? Mark Twain? Groucho Marx? I can't remember...)

Over the past twenty years that sentiment has started to make less and less sense. East is West and West is East is more like it, and if you don't believe me, guess which Swedish retailer just opened its first Chinese store in Shanghai?

H&M!

Early yesterday morning some 700 eager shoppers waited outside the door to be the first in line to buy cheap, trendy, fashion-forward goods. Lucky Shanghai residents were offered a sneak peak at the new "H&M loves Kylie" swimwear line, which isn't supposed to hit other H&M stores for another four weeks.

Believe it or not, an Asian model has never been on the cover of a French Vogue. But all of that is about to change with a young Chinese supermodel by the name of Du Juan. Du has taken the modeling world by storm in the past year, posing in a number of high-profile editorial shoots for Allure and W, as well as having the chance to grace the cover of Italian and Chinese Vogue.

What is so remarkable about Du is not the fact that she's Asian model on the cover of a Western Magazine. What is remarkable about her is that she appeal to both Chinese and Western audiences. American and European photographers have been featuring Asian models for years now, but the women who had success in Western markets never had much success in Chinese markets. For instance, the lovely model Ly Yan is somewhat unfortunately known as the "Ugly Duckling" in Beijing. But not so with Du Juan. In addition to French Vogue, she is featured in every single photo spread in Chinese Vogue.

For many of us, the word "Tibet" conjures up images of Beastie Boys benefit concerts, bumper stickers on old Volvos urging everyone to "Free Tibet" and that annoying movie starring Brad Pitt.

Invaded by China in 1950, Tibet has become both a cause celebre and a legitimate rallying point for those consumed by the struggle for human rights. Part of Tibet's mystique and its frustration stemmed from the fact that, post-1950, Tibet has been almost totally closed to outsiders

Yet as Xeni Jardin explains on NPR, these days Tibet is suddenly far more open to tourists, Western and otherwise. Tibet's capital, Lhasa, has transformed into something she calls "Lhasa Vegas" with absurd sights, retail stores and Internet cafes.

So is Tibet the new Thailand? Only time will tell.

The hottest thing during the Chinese Cultural Revolution was the Little Red Book that good Maoists (and everyone in China, as its ownership was compulsory) carried around to better quote Chairman Mao Zedong.

How times have changed. These days, the hottest thing in London right now is the Miss Mao show at Blacklist Projects. Miss Mao is a group show entirely built around a sculpture -- specifically, the scandalous "Miss Mao" sculpture created by Chinese brothers Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang and smuggled out of China to avoid censorship.

The Miss Mao exhibition brings together Chinese artists, Chinese-British artists, and British artists who have something to say about the situation in contemporary China. In addition to sculpture, the show draws upon billboard art, video, photography and installation pieces to probe, politicize and pontificate about post-Mao China.

The show runs through August 13th, so -- if you're not already in London -- you'd better buy your tickets soon. And bring your Little Red Book, too.