Founded by Hong Kong entrepreneur Sir David Tang back in 1995, Shanghai Tang became synonymous with chinoiserie chic, combining traditional Chinese design elements with modern silhouettes, innovative fabrication and bold colours.
Over the years, it has engaged in various collaborations, including ones with contemporary Chinese artists such as Liu Ye and Xu Bing. Another of its claims to fame is it had a Chinese-style tailor in the first Shanghai Tang store located in the atmospheric Pedder Building in Central Hong Kong, which specialised in making made-to-measure Chinese garments like the qipao for ladies and the Tang suit for men.
Fast forward to today, and Shanghai Tang is undergoing a renaissance of sorts with the unveiling of a new boutique in Kuala Lumpur located at the Lalaport Bukit Bintang Centre.
Featuring a new concept which showcases all their clothes, accessories and home products in a 1,256 square feet space, the new boutique is inspired by the quaint lanes of Shanghai with silver walls and terrazzo floors which bring out the best of the luxurious fabrics of the outfits, the glean of fine China and sleek lacquerware.
To celebrate this official launch, Shanghai Tang invited a group of stylish tastemakers consisting of celebrities, fashion glitterati and media personalities, some of whom were outfitted in the latest collections.
Combining traditional aesthetics with modern elegance, the new boutique features Shanghai Tang’s Autumn/Winter 2023 women’s collection inspired by Yang Liping’s Moonlight Dance in Lijiang, China, capturing the spirited movement of the performance.
Fusing Chinese hand-drawn floral prints and Western fabrics, the collection highlights a contemporary silhouette reminiscent of the freedom of dance, showcasing traditional dyeing techniques with floral prints in moonlight yellow and midnight blue on mulberry silk, resulting in lustrous flowing ensembles.
For the Men’s Autumn/Winter 2023 collection, the brand legacy is reinforced with the history of contemporary Chinese fashion echoed in the outfits. With a ‘Reunion’ theme, the men’s collection captures the joy in family gatherings in the colours while intricate embroidery adds interesting details to the clothes.
A standout piece in the collection is a double-stitched wool jacket which artfully mimics denim and thus infuses a typically Western fashion staple into a traditional garment.
Another range of items which Shanghai Tang is known for is their home collection. This season, the theme is ‘Crane Garden’, which has rich, intricate designs on their bone China, lacquered wood and enamel.
With motifs like cranes, ginkgo and willow lattices, this home collection infuses the best of Oriental design with Western style. From dining accountments to tea ware and home fragrances and artwork, Shanghai Tang completes its repertoire for stylish living.
For further information, please visit www.shanghaitang.com.
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