In “Chinese Whispers,” we share the biggest news stories about the luxury industry in China that haven’t yet made it into the English language.
In this week’s edition, we discuss:
- Two luxury brands, including Hermès-owned Shang Xia, launched official stores on JD.com's Toplife,
- LVMH's new Chinese supplier, and
- Why southwest municipal city Chongqing is the center of China's streetwear culture.
1. JD.com adds two big-name brands to its luxury portfolio - Sina and the brands#
This week, China's second-largest e-commerce platform JD.com expanded its luxury portfolio after adding Hermès-backed Chinese label Shang Xia and prestige Italian jewelry brand Buccellati to its high-end portal TopLife.
On JD's Shang Xia store, consumers can purchase about 80 items ranging from furniture, apparel and accessories, priced between 85 (RMB 580) and 11,679 (RMB 80,000). Buccellati, on the other hand, launched three signature collections--Macri, Opera and Ramage--on the platform.
Currently, there are over 30 high-end luxury brands that have established stores on TopLife, including Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Tod's, Canali and Mulberry.
2. LVMH releases a first-ever collaboration with a Chinese silk supplier - National Business Daily#
French luxury conglomerate LVMH has recently teamed up with Chinese silk producer Wensli (“万事利”) to collaborate on silk production and technology, the financial media publication National Business Daily reported on August 31. It is the first time for the luxury giant to reveal the details of their Chinese partner, the publication noted.
The two-year collaboration will allow LVMH to use Wensli's core silk-making techniques for the production of their designs. Wensli Group was founded in 1975, and has become the leading player in silk-production in China in recent years.
3. Streetwear and hip hop brands are flocking to Chongqing - Jiemian#
This week, an op-ed by Chinese media outlet Jiemian argues that Chongqing, a sprawling municipality in southwestern China, has become the center of the country's streetwear and hip-hop culture. The publication claims that the culture and atmosphere of Chongqing share the "keep real" essence of what the streetwear and hip-hop trend is really about.
Many brands are taking note. The op-ed listed a number of international streetwear players, such as Supreme, Off-White and JOYRICH, which have all established a presence in the city earlier this year.