Stars and spokepersons opened the first exhibition of Chanel in Shanghai, at MoCA. Curated by Jean-Louis Froment, a well-known figure in the contemporary art and design worlds, the new exhibition highlights the creative dimensions of the House of Chanel throughout history. Culture Chanel is going back to the house roots and shows how it transformed across the differentes eras of the 20th century, while also showing its impact on our modern societies in Europe, Americas and Asia.

The exhibition interprets Mademoiselle Chanel’s universe through her designs, her iconic pieces and her literary and artistic inspirations. Delving into her brushes with poets Jean Cocteau and Pierre Reverdy, painters Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali and composer Igor Stravinsky, ‘Culture Chanel’ has been developed around five themes: Origin, Abstraction, Invisibility, Liberty and Imaginary.

Dressed by Chanel house, Anna Mougialis and Chinese artist Zhou Yi met each other and introduced the exhibition.

A must see for fashionistas and design fans alike.

Culture Chanel — From January 15th to March 14th 2011, The Museum of Contemporary Art, 231 Nanjing Road (West), Huangpu, Shanghai, China

VIVE’s experiment in selling premium “made-in-China” cosmetics was risky. So how has Shanghai VIVE been received since its official relaunch after 6 months existence ? Founder Demos Chiang, grandson of Chiang Kai-Shek, explains the strategy of the brand:

With its 1080 yuan (US$163) “Yurong cream” and 220 yuan ($33) “Xiren” soap, Shanghai VIVE is clearly positioning itself as a true luxury brand. Shanghai VIVE’s appeareance on the scene means that China’s lack of a home-grown luxury cosmetics brand has come to an end.

In its comeback campaign, Shanghai VIVE decided to continue to use the “Qipao calendar girl” image originally used in the “Two Sisters” days. Meanwhile, parent company Shanghai Jahwa hired DEM Inc. to create the new logo, product packaging and store design. The grandson of Chiang Kai-shek, DEM Inc. founder Demos Chiang has become a key part of Shanghai VIVE’s brand’s resurrection. This is not only because he’s a popular media figure and writer, but also because of the international perspective of his design team.

When preparing Shanghai VIVE’s design, Demos Chiang said he did a lot of research about 1930s Shanghai, while also studying popular fashion magazines at the time. Finally, Chiang settled on a black and rose-red motif for the brand, feeling it best depicted the mysterious and sexy nature of Shanghai women.

Despite the success of Liushen and Herborist, Shanghai Jahwa doesn’t want to follow their model with Shanghai VIVE. In contrast to Herborist, Shanghai VIVE doesn’t use herbal ingredients as a selling point. Rather, it uses culture as its main selling point.

Currently, all of Shanghai VIVE’s packaging is imported from France, as “no domestic suppliers meet our requirements,” according to Lei Yuanzong of the brand’s design center. Added Lei, “It’ll probably take 10 years for China to develop its own luxury capabilities.”

Nonetheless, Shanghai VIVE has begun to attract attention from Europe and the US, though the brand isn’t yet available overseas.

Source: Jing Daily

Luxury maisons, Modern Art, Asia become the new area of luxury marketing. Chanel’s HK Mobile Art, LV’s japanese multicolor looking, and now Hermès scarves exposition in Beijing from March 25 to April 16 2008. Who else?

Actually, “The Tale of Silk” Hermès’ Scarves Exhibition has just been launched at the Shanghai Art Museum last year in September. Step by Beijing in 2008 is not a coincidence.

The show marks the 70th anniversary of its first scarf and the 10th anniversary of the renowned brand entering the Chinese market. The exhibition comprised 21 section displaying 46 pieces of scarves selected from 1500 styles designed by Hermes in the past 70 years.

Besides, specially designed scarves coming from skilled Chinese artists were also showcased during the event.

Hermès specially invited Mr. Hilton McConnico to design the exquisite and fine scarves show. Stylist, designer, photographer, filmmaker and screen writer, this American artist living in Paris is keen on telling stories with colors, especially about silk. This time he will create a dialogue between the audience and Hermès scarves, with the participation of the Chinese artist Ding Yi, the film director Li Yu and the dancer and choreographer Huang Doudou.

The monthlong Exhibition will present 19 series of exhibits from scarf artists from all over the world. Installed with multi-support, danse, paint, video…, mise-en-scene with lanterns or clothes to give a peculiar eastern touch, the program will take the audience to an abundant visual experience and the pure spirit of the Hermès silk art.

Beijing Today’s Art Museum: Building 4, 32 Baiziwan Rd, Chaoyang district. From March 25 to April 16 2008, everyday from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m.