Fashion
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 04:11
Written by Rosemary Zhu

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Meet the trendsetters, style-makers & taste-formers who rule China’s fashion world

25. Wang Feng
Editor-in-Chief, GQ China

After much hullabaloo, Conde Nast’s fashion and lifestyle bible for men, GQ, has finally touched down in China – with a whopping great thud. Wang Feng, previously Esquire China’s assistant publisher and editor-in- chief, has been lured over to helm the glossy new title, with famed Sanlian Life Weekly columnist Kunkun joining the editorial floor. The first issue already pays homage to what is commonly referred to as modern man’s four C points: cufflinks, cars, careers and cash. Style advice abounds, as do sophisticated spreads and a soignée design riff. Naturally, high end advertising is pumped hard throughout the magazine and there are plenty of “promotional” views on what to wear and how to be seen. Will Wang Feng’s vision at GQ China create the much-needed sartorial evolution in the  Chinese gentleman’s wardrobe? Only time will judge. JJ Healy

     

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24. Icicle
Eco Fashion Label

Eco clothing labels are few and far between in China, but one company which has firmly established itself on the commercial fashion scene is Icicle. Founded in 1997, the Shanghai-based fashion house has around 60 stores in China (including two in Shanghai). What sets the brand apart is the ability to create stylish threads from eco-friendly materials and practices. Their collections are geared towards 25-to-35- year old professional women and feature smart business attire, wardrobe staples and some edgier statement pieces in all natural cotton, wool, linen, bamboo and other fabrics. For stringent earth-lovers, there’s also a super-eco line of un-dyed organic and recycled fabrics. According to co-founder and manager Shawna Tao, ethical fashion is currently a hot topic in China. “Many brands are introducing an ‘eco’ element into their collections to enhance sales,” she says, “but most don’t appreciate that this isn’t just a fad, but an ongoing responsibility.”

For Spring/Summer ’10, Icicle looked to the ‘Happy 80s’ for inspiration. “After the financial crisis people need something to cheer them up,” says Tao. An accompanying ‘Eco Babe’ line (aged 0-18 months) will also launch next year. Sophie Lloyd

23. Cotton
Editor-in-Chief, M-Style

Tell us about M-Style magazine.
Our Xiamen readers are aged from 18-28. They have their own senses of life and beauty. Our magazine opens a window for them to embrace international fashion, trends and cultures, but never to follow them blindly. It’s our dream that our readers can develop good taste from the inside out. Their confidence is the basis of the city’s confidence.

Do you worry about your content being too edgy for some readers?
I don’t care about that. In fact, I think it’s a magazine’s responsibility to express its own ideas, and therefore influence the readers’ lives to some degree. I’m happy that we’ve made it.

It’s the fourth year of M-Style. What’s the biggest difficulty you’ve faced so far?
Every issue is a new challenge for us. Most of the challenges come from there being limited fashion brands here, and a relatively conservative culture. It takes time for people to make progress. Roxanne Mei

22. Radek Kantor
Booker, Esee Model Management

Hailing from the Czech Republic, the handsome, blue-eyed Kantor is more than just a pretty face. Coming as a model to Shanghai in 2003, Kantor now works as an international model scout and trainer for leading Chinese agency Esee Model Management. He travels the globe in search of fresh faces to work the Asian market. Sophie Lloyd

21. Xu Jia
Fashion Journalist, The Bund

What do you love most about fashion?
I love fashion because it’s a relatively isolated and special world compared to other industries. I once chatted with a writer about YSL, and he thought these fashion designers were even more interesting than artists. I understand that very well.

You were a successful news writer before becoming a fashion journalist, why the switch?
I have always been very interested in fashion so I started this job right after graduating from university. But compared with many other fashion journalists, I always feel like an outsider.

Which Chinese designers should we be watching out for?
Xander Zhou and Qiu Hao.

It seems like the hottest designers are all overseas Chinese rather than mainland Chinese. Would you agree?
Right. I was reading an article about Alexander Wang written by a Taiwanese blogger the other day. Alexander Wang is very popular in the West right now, and Taiwanese media call him “the light of the Chinese.” This blogger joked that the switch for “the light of the Chinese” is actually in an American’s hand. I thought that was very funny.

What do you think of Shanghai’s style?
I don’t think Shanghai has its own style yet. Just go and have a look on the streets. What is Shanghai style? Gucci plus LV?

Describe your own fashion style?
My style is whichever style that makes me look thinner!

Give us a fashion tip.
Be careful with over-the-knee boots! Hailey Meng

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