Glitzy celebrations as Shiatzy Chen turns 35
By Yang Di |
00:00 UTC+8 June 16, 2013
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SHIATZY Chen has been celebrating its 35th anniversary by presenting its fall-winter 2013 collection on the runway at Grand Palais in March and, most recently, with a retrospective exhibition and lavish banquet at Park Hyatt Beijing.
A total of 35 classic outfits featuring the brand's unique techniques of embroidery over the years were presented, while elegant screens in the exhibition area allowed guests to observe the details of individual creation in close-up.
Special guests and performers from Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, France, Malaysia and Thailand attended the special evening event. Stars on show included renowned film director Wang Chaoge, actor Li Dongxue, rising actors Jing Tian and Huang Hu and artists Wen Fang and Cui Xiuwen.
Eight young singers from the Miao ethnic group traveled more than 2,500 kilometers by foot, boat, road and aircraft from Guizhou Province to Beijing to give special performances as guests arrived and departed. These were a thank-you to founder and design director Wang Chen Tsai-Shia for bringing Miao embroidery to the world.
Internationally recognized pop artist and actress Karen Mok, a big admirer of Shiatzy designs, attended the label's fashion show in Paris in March and was invited again as a guest at the special finale celebrations in Beijing.
Founder Wang Chen, the first Chinese member of the French Fashion Federation, talked with Shanghai Daily afterwards.
Q: This was your first retrospective exhibition in your 35-year history. What are the ideas and philosophy behind the carefully selected 35 looks?
A: Intricate Suzhou embroidery techniques have remained consistent throughout my collections over more than 20 years and the signature embroidery details has been presented in each look on display. What I've done is to revive traditional Suzhou embroidery techniques to create a practical, innovative hand-stitching techniques for a modern, sleek look. I've worked actively to preserve the traditional techniques, crafts and culture of China and hope this can pass through generations.
Q: You've picked different Chinese cultural elements each season as your inspiration. Will you continue to doing so and where do you find inspiration?
A: Yes, for sure. Inspiration come from everywhere: from books, movies, travels to my own collections of antiques, fabrics, and embroidered pieces. I like going to Beijing's Panjiayuan antique market to find "treasures" and antique markets in Paris are also favorites. Inspiration is everywhere.
Q: Are you also targeting a younger generation of customers?
A: Yes, a fashion brand should always keep up with the times, staying appealing, while having your own "spirit." Our customers are becoming younger and younger, and willing to wear Shiatzy Chen to present different personalities.
Q: Launched in 1978, Shiatzy Chen created the "new look of China" through its fashion house in Taipei and has grown into an international brand with shops in Paris, Hong Kong, Chinese mainland and Malaysia. What are your development plans for the future?
A: We decided to open in Paris in 2001 after Taipei because it is the city of fashion and we are close to the best fabric suppliers. We are going to open the first store in Tokyo at the end of this year; next year we will open in Singapore, New York and Thailand. We are determined to secure a position on the global market, with the creation of a world-class luxury brand as the ultimate goal. In the meantime, we expect to open 200 shops by 2020 on the Chinese mainland.
Q: Any advice for young Chinese fashion designers?
A: I hope more and more Chinese designers enter the international market and help create a strong Oriental fashion power. Quality products and good staff are the keys for a successful brand.
A total of 35 classic outfits featuring the brand's unique techniques of embroidery over the years were presented, while elegant screens in the exhibition area allowed guests to observe the details of individual creation in close-up.
Special guests and performers from Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, France, Malaysia and Thailand attended the special evening event. Stars on show included renowned film director Wang Chaoge, actor Li Dongxue, rising actors Jing Tian and Huang Hu and artists Wen Fang and Cui Xiuwen.
Eight young singers from the Miao ethnic group traveled more than 2,500 kilometers by foot, boat, road and aircraft from Guizhou Province to Beijing to give special performances as guests arrived and departed. These were a thank-you to founder and design director Wang Chen Tsai-Shia for bringing Miao embroidery to the world.
Internationally recognized pop artist and actress Karen Mok, a big admirer of Shiatzy designs, attended the label's fashion show in Paris in March and was invited again as a guest at the special finale celebrations in Beijing.
Founder Wang Chen, the first Chinese member of the French Fashion Federation, talked with Shanghai Daily afterwards.
Q: This was your first retrospective exhibition in your 35-year history. What are the ideas and philosophy behind the carefully selected 35 looks?
A: Intricate Suzhou embroidery techniques have remained consistent throughout my collections over more than 20 years and the signature embroidery details has been presented in each look on display. What I've done is to revive traditional Suzhou embroidery techniques to create a practical, innovative hand-stitching techniques for a modern, sleek look. I've worked actively to preserve the traditional techniques, crafts and culture of China and hope this can pass through generations.
Q: You've picked different Chinese cultural elements each season as your inspiration. Will you continue to doing so and where do you find inspiration?
A: Yes, for sure. Inspiration come from everywhere: from books, movies, travels to my own collections of antiques, fabrics, and embroidered pieces. I like going to Beijing's Panjiayuan antique market to find "treasures" and antique markets in Paris are also favorites. Inspiration is everywhere.
Q: Are you also targeting a younger generation of customers?
A: Yes, a fashion brand should always keep up with the times, staying appealing, while having your own "spirit." Our customers are becoming younger and younger, and willing to wear Shiatzy Chen to present different personalities.
Q: Launched in 1978, Shiatzy Chen created the "new look of China" through its fashion house in Taipei and has grown into an international brand with shops in Paris, Hong Kong, Chinese mainland and Malaysia. What are your development plans for the future?
A: We decided to open in Paris in 2001 after Taipei because it is the city of fashion and we are close to the best fabric suppliers. We are going to open the first store in Tokyo at the end of this year; next year we will open in Singapore, New York and Thailand. We are determined to secure a position on the global market, with the creation of a world-class luxury brand as the ultimate goal. In the meantime, we expect to open 200 shops by 2020 on the Chinese mainland.
Q: Any advice for young Chinese fashion designers?
A: I hope more and more Chinese designers enter the international market and help create a strong Oriental fashion power. Quality products and good staff are the keys for a successful brand.
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