Week In Review: July 9-13, 2012

In case you missed them the first time around, here are some of Jing Daily’s top posts for the week of July 9-13: Surprise! Consumer 2.0 In China Wants Unknown Brands Some of the best-selling brands in China are labels that are less than well known. This may surprise readers who are used to headlines like, “Three-Hour Lines At Gucci.” But beware of headlines — they only tell one side of the story. There‘s a growing trend in China – a trend towards individualization: looking, being, and dressing differently from others. This is led by the second generation of Chinese shoppers…Consumer 2.0. They’re just starting out, but they’re larger, stronger and different from their predecessors. And incoming brands need to speak to them. Jing Daily Interview: Ignace Lecleir Of Temple Restaurant Beijing Having become enchanted by a 600-year-old temple during his weekly jogs around the area, Lecleir set to work building what would become Temple Restaurant Beijing, working hard to renovate the ancient space, assemble and train a service-oriented team and develop a superb menu based upon local and organic ingredients. Only open for the past five and a half months, TRB sits in an old Beijing hutong near the northeast corner of the Forbidden City. Recently, Jing Daily Beijing correspondent Zandie Brockett sat down with Ignace Lecleir to discuss the process of creating and operating a fine dining venue in Beijing, “pulling things together” for local and expat tastes, and why he’s so excited by spicy food. Economic Slowdown Hits Burberry, But Brand Still Sees China Opportunity Though it remains one of the most successful high-end brands in the China market, this week Burberry reported lower-than-expected earnings on lower economic growth in the Chinese, European and US economies, signaling — among some analysts — the need for caution among the brand’s luxury peers. According to the Financial Times, Burberry recorded a 11 percent year-on-year increase in its first-quarter revenues, hitting £408 million (US$635 million), missing forecasts of £418 million ($650 million). Although an impressive showing amid a troubled global economy, it pales in comparison to Burberry’s 30 percent increase in Q1 2011. Hugo Boss Signs Chow Yun-Fat As First Asian Brand Ambassador Concerned about slower growth in mainland China this year, major brands continue to pull out all the stops to stand out in a crowded yet critical luxury market. This week, Hugo Boss — which recently held a high-tech and much-hyped 3D runway show in Beijing — made its latest move to attract Chinese consumers by signing Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat as its first-ever Asian brand ambassador. Chow will be the face of the A/W 2012 formal and casual menswear lines, featured in ad campaigns mostly targeting China’s middle-aged shopper. A Summer Of Chinese Art In New York: Must-See Exhibitions Currently on view at one of Chelsea’s blockbuster galleries, The Pace Gallery, is the first U.S. exhibition of Chinese artist Wang Guangle (b. 1976, Songxi, Fujian), featuring seven new works from his Untitled series, extensions of his earlier series, Coffin Paint (2004). Derived from the Fujian tradition of elders preparing their coffins with a fresh coat of lacquer each year before their death, Wang has appropriated the practice onto canvas by methodically applying layers of acrylic paint, creating an illusionistic gradation of tones and depth. Dedicating virtually the entire gallery space to seven of these gems, Pace and Wang have created a meditative, sombre atmosphere that you must experience for yourself.

Week In Review: July 9-13, 2012

How Bottega Veneta weaved China’s forever it bag

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Week In Review: July 9-13, 2012

How Bottega Veneta weaved China’s forever it bag