From exiting China to Chinese company director: Steven Ma’s appointment at Machine-A

What happened: Steven Ma, Chinese accessories designer and businessman, has been appointed as a company director of luxury concept store Machine-A. A long-time collaborator and friend of Machine-A’s founder, Stavros Karelis, Ma has played an integral role in the company since 2019. His notable contributions include launching the Machine-A brand in China, organizing a Mugler event in Shanghai featuring K-pop icon CL and model Ming Xi, and spearheading a Reebok collaboration with Kai-Isaiah Jamal and Alibae. Ma’s background is as diverse as his professional experience. A Parsons School of Design graduate, he also holds an MBA from Emlyon Business School in France. He honed his craft in footwear design at Arsutoria School in Milan before launching his eponymous accessories label. As director, Ma envisions expanding Machine-A into key global markets and enhancing its digital presence. He aims to honor the store’s legacy as a platform for innovation and inclusivity while fostering its role as an incubator for emerging designers. This transition comes as Machine-A moves out of the Tomorrow portfolio, embracing a new phase under private investors, with Karelis remaining active in daily operations. The Jing Take For Tomorrow Ltd, the recent sale of Machine-A and its divestiture of A-Cold-Wall signals a shift in strategy, suggesting a streamlining of the brand portfolio. The development comes at the tailend of a turbulent year for luxury retail marked by high-profile changes like Farfetch’s near bankruptcy and MatchesFashion’s closure, indicating market volatility. Such events highlight the precarious position of niche luxury retail. Machine-A’s departure from China earlier this year highlighted the challenges of global expansion amid unfavorable conditions, like the lockdown-induced economic strain in mid-2022 at the time it opened in Shanghai. Although digital engagement efforts through WeChat and Alipay were notable, the timing proved disadvantageous. Since its founding in 2009, Machine-A has been championed for its efforts supporting and cultivating emerging talent. That said, the appointment of Ma and arrival of new investors are causes for optimism for the retailer after a difficult year. An expected restructuring of the brand strategy will be key to performance. Equipped with a robust fan base thanks to its focus on niche independent designers, Machine-A has what it takes to survive, yet 2025 is likely to be a pivotal and challenging year for the business. As Machine-A Shanghai shows, retail can no longer rely on consumer traffic. Stores have to strategically invest in brand partnerships, exclusive collections, activations, events, and become established as cultural tastemakers. The Jing Take reports on a piece of the leading news and presents our editorial team’s analysis of the key implications for the luxury industry. In the recurring column, we analyze everything from product drops and mergers to heated debate sprouting on Chinese social media.

Can Steven Ma transform Machine-A?

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Can Steven Ma transform Machine-A?