In a market driven by the changing tastes of the millennial generation, China’s digital, retail, tech, and marketing industries are also being shaped by a large number of young leaders with unique visions. The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List 2018 named 59 of them in 10 categories, putting China in second place, behind India, in its number of representatives. We’ve published the whole list of mainland Chinese entrepreneurs (and one from Taiwan) below in case you missed it, but first, here are the individuals making major contributions to China’s luxury, fashion, and e-commerce industries.
Chen Peng and Snow Xue Gao, 26, Fashion Designers#
China’s independent fashion scene has been gaining worldwide recognition, propelled by young designers like Chen Peng and Snow Xue Gao, both Forbes honorees who happen to have both been showing off their work at New York Fashion Week and dressing Rihanna. Gao, a Parsons grad, presented her collection at NYFW just a year after launching her East meets West womenswear brand, and not long after, opened a studio in Manhattan. Peng’s one-size-fits-all outerwear is stocked in Dover Street Market and at Opening Ceremony.
Tao Liang (aka Mr. Bags), 25, Blogger#
The WeChat blogger has grown from being a go-to expert on luxury handbags to a key asset for brands looking to grow their Chinese audience and sales. Forbes recognized Mr. Bags for selling out a capsule collection with Givenchy on WeChat in mere minutes, but more recently he has delved into the design world, working with Tod’s on a 200-piece capsule, as well as teaming up with Longchamp to create a personalized collection just in time for the Year of the Dog.
John Yuyi, 27, Artist#
Based in Taiwan, John is worthy of a mention for her contribution to how social media, art, and luxury have come together in the past year to inspire the growing segment of young, digitally savvy consumers. John, whose Taiwanese surname is Chiang, is the first Taiwanese-born artist recruited by Gucci. She's been swept up in a viral Instagram campaign featuring a photo of her face covered in Gucci temporary tattoos. The meme-themed artwork was commissioned for the launch of Gucci’s new watch collection Le Marché des Merveilles.
Lin Hai, 29, Liu Jieyi, 28, Cofounders of Particle Fever#
Luxury fashion is coming face to face with sportswear in both the West and in China as consumers’ lifestyles increasingly emphasize fitness and comfort. While that has resulted in numerous collaborations between high-end designers and sportswear labels, some activewear brands have been experimenting with innovation and creativity to attract the discerning customer and stand out from the big labels. One such pioneering brand in China is Particle Fever, whose knack for blending functional ingenuity with trendy design and artistic branding has made them a key player in the evolution of athleisure in the Chinese market.
Tang Ling, 23, CEO Ink Labs Foundation#
Tang’s work is a reminder of the possibilities blockchain might have for the future of cracking down on counterfeit goods. Singapore-based Ink Labs Foundation serves to provide blockchain solutions for protecting intellectual property in the cultural and creative industries. Meanwhile, Alibaba and Tencent have been making investments in blockchain technology for various applications, including fin-tech and cross-border e-commerce.
Su Chunzi, 28, Executive Vice President, Partner, FLOWERPLUS#
As their incomes rise, Chinese consumers are beginning to move beyond a product-focused luxury lifestyle and are making big investments in upgrading their life at home, taking cues from Japan and the West to learn the arts of floral arrangement and tablescaping. Su Chunzi is just one of the figures disrupting the growing floral business in China, creating an online platform for weekly flower deliveries that are a bit more affordable than the ballooning prices shoppers would find at brick and mortar stores. China’s first-tier cities have seen an increasing number of floral retailers aimed at high-end customers, such as The Beast and RoseOnly.
Michael Wang, 28, Cofounder, YCloset and Cordelia Xiao, 29, Cofounder Xiaolusenlin Abox (DeerForest)#
E-commerce is changing the way people shop, paving the way for trends like clothes sharing and online trunk shows. Even in China, where the e-tail giants are making it easier for consumers to access an increasing range of international designers at a variety of price points, clothing rental startups are recognizing that shoppers want to stay on top of the quickly shifting trends and need stylish everyday wear that’s going to live up to the occasion, whether it’s a night out or an office meeting. Chinese-born clothing rental platforms like Alibaba-backed YCloset and Abox (which focuses on childrenswear)—are giving consumers the flexibility to trial new brands and styles at a fraction of the cost of owning a product, saving them more money for their high-end bags or watches.
The full list of Chinese individuals named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List 2018 is included below.
The Arts#
Chen Peng, 26, Fashion designer
Snow Xue Gao, 26, Fashion designer
John Yuyi (Taiwan), 27, Artist
Liang Tao, 25, Blogger
Consumer Technology#
Wen Liu 28, Zhang Yibo 29, Founders of Illume Research
Hong Zhenye, 25, Founder of Ulandian
Leng Xiaokun, 25, China, Founder of Leju Robotics
Eric Tao, 27, Founder of Holla
Tan Ce, 27, CEO of Apin
Sheng Jiarui, 26, Founder of MiniUS
Chen Jingshu, 29, Chen Yue (Richard), 28, Ye Hanzhong, (Ayden), Cofounders of VeeR VR
Zhu Xiaoxiao, 26, CEO of FitTime
Social Entreprenuers#
Sam Waldo, 30, Cofounder of Mantra Eyewear
Li Tianchi, 27, Sun Yue 28, Cofounders of Shenzhen Dianmao technology company limited
Healthcare & Science#
Chen Kuan, 29, Cofounder of Infervision
Dong Lin, 28, CEO of Sirui Jiankang
Mingzhen Liu, 27, Professor at University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Dong Leiting, 30, Professor Assistant Dean at Beihang University
Retail & E-Commerce#
Li Xiaoya, 30, Cofounder of Huishoubao
Lin Hai, 29, Liu Jieyi, 28, Cofounders of Particle Fever
Su Chunzi, 28, Executive Vice President, Partner at FLOWERPLUS
Michael Wang, 28, Cofounder of YCloset
Cordelia Xiao, 29, Cofounder of Xiaolusenlin Abox (DeerForest)
Xu Xinming, 28, CEO of Shi Lili
Media, Marketing & Advertising#
Jenny Guo, 27, Cofounder of LumiereVR
Ji Fangyuan, 29, Founder of Ividea
Tang Ling, 23, CEO of Ink Labs Foundation
Tao Weihua, 28, Founder of Chaping
Li Hu, 28, Writer
Anni Chen, 25, Founder of Kuaikan Comic
Chen Cong, 28, Founder of Dongquidi
Enterprise Technology#
Chen Haoliang, 28, Cofounder of SpeakIn Technologies
Chen Zhen, 24, Founder of Qfeeltech
Feng Zongliang, 29, Partner at MetroDataTech
Jing Tianwei, 28, Cofounder of Ruff Internet of Things Operating System
Li Ping, 28, Cofounder of NewBornTown
Kong Miao, 27, Founder of ZHUGEIO
Wang Dong, 27, Xu Huan, 28, Cofounders of Qimai Tech
Ren Shaoqing, 30, Cofounder of Momenta
Orion Zhao, 26, Cofounder of MokaHR
Zeng Yuan, 26, Cofounder of VZoom Credit
Yang Fan, 28, Founder of MiniVision
Chang Le, 29, Cofounder of SoundAI Technology
Deng Yaohuan, 29, CEO of Dorabot Inc
Zhao Yiyang, 30, Cofounder of Unisound
Finance & Venture Capital#
Li Yao, 29, Partner at Tsing Ventures
Zhang Chenxu, 29, Senior Investment Manager at Peakview Capital
Yang Fan, 30, Founder of Finup Fintech Group
Bobby Bao, 29, Cofounder of Monaco
Song Yu, 29, Founder of CEC Data Capital
William Zhao, 28, Investment Vice President of Bertelsmann Asia Investments
Hugo Chan and Huang Wei Ting, 29, Cofounders of Kingsferry Capital
Industry, Manufacturing, & Energy#
Dana (Xiaoxiao) Hou, 25, Cofounder of FarmFriend Inc
Liu Yifeng, 24, Founder of Beijing Sunlectric Co., Ltd
Qiu Chunchao, 27, Founder of Suteng Innovation Technology
Shi Xiaogang, 27, Founder of Beijing Xloong Technologies
Tang Bowei, 28, Founder of Beijing Ewaybot Technology
Entertainment & Sports#
Zhou Qi, 22, Athlete Basketball
Emily Song, 27, Business Development Executive for Creative Artists Agency
Hu Ranran, 18, Filmmaker