Welcome to Jing Daily’s China Luxury Brief: the day’s top news on the business of luxury and culture in China, all in one place. Look below for the top stories for October 15, 2013.#
— BUSINESS & FINANCE —#
Apple hires Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts.#
It's likely that Burberry's success in China played a large part in the decision. (The Street )
UK to ease access for China banks.#
After its announcement that it would lift restrictions on visas for Chinese tourists, the UK's China charm offensive continues. (Bloomberg )
The French are building a mall by the Eiffel Tower, and China wants to buy it.#
"China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange, which manages the government’s $3.66 trillion in currency reserves, is one of five potential bidders for the soon-to-open Beaugrenelle development, a three-building complex in a prime location on the right bank of the Seine." (Quartz )
There's been a sharp increase North Korean imports of luxury goods from China.#
So much for sanctions. (Telegraph )
World Luxury Association releases another dubious report.#
After previously falling under investigation for being a fake organization, the association is apparently still hard at work publishing questionable statistics and claiming it's a "US government international non-profit organisation." (Want China Times )
— CULTURE —#
How high-class Chinese mistresses are taking stock of the luxury market.#
Luxury gifts are a huge part of "mistress culture" in China, but technology is making it increasingly hard to keep it quiet. (Spear's )
— FILM —#
Zhongnanhai has movie nights for high officials in its west hall.#
Xi Jinping likes The Godfather, Deerhunter and Mission: Impossible, and Saving Private Ryan is reportedly "one of Xi's favorite war movies of all time." (Want China Times )
Ask Jackie Chan all about how he defeated the imperialists in Chinese Zodiac.#
On Wednesday, he will be doing a live chat with Los Angeles Times about the propaganda patriotic film. (LA Times )
— FASHION —#
Kate Moss won’t crack China for Topshop without local help.#
With its Chinese brand ambassadors, it looks like Topshop already knows this. (The Conversation )
Businesses tap into China's growing used luxury goods market.#
Three hundred billion yuan of secondhand luxury products are available in China, but the concept of "vintage" doesn't have the cachet it has in the West yet. (Want China Times )
— LIFESTYLE —#
A house surrounded by trees in Hong Kong.#
Scene Asia travels 16 miles away from the city center for its house of the day. (Scene Asia )
Middle Eastern travelers still spend more money in the U.K. per person than Chinese (for now).#
However, that might be set to change in coming years. (Telegraph )
Automakers' China battle heats up#
. Everyone wants to chip away at Volkswagen's lead. (The Motley Fool )
— TECH —#
HTC seeks to woo China's smartphone users.#
The company hopes its new fingerprint censor smartphone will lure customers in the world's largest smartphone market. (China Real Time )
Former Google China chief subject of attack article in official Chinese media.#
An op-ed on a government-run website calls him a "loser" and claims he lied about having cancer. Stay classy, propaganda department. (China Real Time )