"East Meets West" clothing

[SunWuKong]

i don't know much about fashion, but what do you think of the "East Meets West" kinds of clothing? there's a famous HK clothing line that does this.

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/index.jsp

The Concept

Shanghai Tang sets out to create the first global Chinese lifestyle brand by revitalizing Chinese designs - interweaving traditional Chinese culture with the dynamism of the 21st Century. Thus, resulting in a vibrant fusion of "East Meets West." In fashion, Shanghai Tang continues to evolve its distinctive style whilst employing elegance, comfort and vitality. In hard goods, Shanghai Tang's products are created for everyday use, emphasizing functionality, and always integrating the use of the Chinese motifs into their design. Shanghai Tang always uses the highest quality of materials, workmanship and much inventiveness in the construction of all their products.


The Story

Shanghai Tang was founded in 1994 by Hong Kong businessman, David Tang Wing-Cheung. "Shanghai Tang is the best of 5,000 years of Chinese tradition exploding into the 21st Century", says Mr. Tang. The name, "Shanghai Tang", evokes the elegance and charm of fashionable Shanghai in the 1930's. In its first year, 1994, the store attracted over one million visitors. By the year 2000, this had surpassed four million. Already, Shanghai Tang offers an expanding range of home furnishings, accessories, novelty gift items, and a collection of men's, ladies' and children's apparel - all of which enhance the concept of revitalized Chinese arts. Unique to Shanghai Tang is Imperial Tailors, which revives the diminishing art of "Chinese haute couture" - delicately crafted apparel redelivered by a team of traditional Shanghainese tailors. Lush cut velvets; silk jacquards, chiffon, organza, delicate linens, and printed cottons provide an exciting collection of brilliant colors and textures from which a full range of exclusive designs may be chosen.

[kasia]

i have gotten more shirts with the mandarin collar. i like them.

[mr. x]

i wanna see more east meets west architecture, cuz grey concrete is just drab

[ModernLogic]

I like how some of the clothing looks but it's really over-priced.

[missmeow]

The mandarin collar/cheongsam cut on a blouse is really figure flattering for almost anyone. It gives ya curves if you dont have them and if you have to many, covers em up.

[SunWuKong]

what if it was white people that are producing an "East Meets West" brand? would that be considered commodification of Asian cultures/cultural symbols?

because i definitely don't think this particular case with Shanghai Tang is commodification of Asian cultures. it was started by HKers and its market is mostly Asian/Chinese people. they have 14 physical store locations and only 5 locations are not in Asia - and 1 of these 5 is in Honolulu, Hawaii. these "East Meets West" themes from HK is usually a compromise for people that want to stay modern but yet does not want to abandon the traditional.

[Kuchana]

what if it was white people that are producing an "East Meets West" brand? would that be considered commodification of Asian cultures/cultural symbols?

aren't the designers doing that now? i thought asian-inspired or asian-themed clothes are the rage at the moment.

[hooligan]

i have no money for this ish!

[SunWuKong]

aren't the designers doing that now? i thought asian-inspired or asian-themed clothes are the rage now.

which begs the question of what motivations they have. i think that Asian people (especially those in Asia) and non-Asian people are going to approach and think of these "East Meets West" themes differently.

disclaimer: i'm not crying foul or anything. i just think it's interesting that for all the talk about commodification of Asian cultures in the US, there's really already plenty of "East Meets West" themes in Asia, especially in the more westernised cities.

[AltimaGTR]

My buddy is getting a trenchcoat done with Chinese buttons and collar, and pretty cheap, so I've heard (in ShangHai).

[SynRG]

Is it really "East meets West" or is it just "Modern East?" Alot of their shit looks pretty good... too bad I can't afford any of it.. ha! Ah well, not really my style anyways. I'm a t-shirt and jeans whenever possible kinda guy.

I also think Shanghai Tang needs a new logo. Their current one is pretty cheesy for how high priced their clothes are.

[Banana]

I thought East meets West fashion just comprised of a white girl shoving chopsticks into her hair bun.

[>:^|]

aren't the designers doing that now? i thought asian-inspired or asian-themed clothes are the rage at the moment.

The last holiday party I attended, there were two White women wearing cheongsam (qi pao) type dresses and others wearing Mandarin collar/frog button type things.

Can you commodify your own culture if you are selling to that culture or is it just cultural change? I think I'm more bothered by the use of "West" as a selling point or as an implication of progress or modernness or something.

[rice cracker]

I dunno, I'd just feel like a poser wearing some of the stuff on that Shanghai Tang site.

[thaite]

I like that wool jacket. Too bad it's so expensive. And totally unnecessary since I live in the desert.

But if they had some less expensive stuff and more variety I might buy. As it is right now I just pick up a few items here and there when I go to Thailand.

[SunWuKong]

I think I'm more bothered by the use of "West" as a selling point or as an implication of progress or modernness or something.


well that's been going on for, i would say, almost or at least a century. the selling point of something like the Shanghai Tang line is actually that it incorporates traditional Chinese styles.

I dunno, I'd just feel like a poser wearing some of the stuff on that Shanghai Tang site.


they use hapa models! :smile:

[rice cracker]

I think SWK would look super cute in this jacket:

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/2B347O2.jpg

[Napoleon Chynamite]

That hapa girl/model in the photos looks pretty cute/hot ^^

[SunWuKong]

That hapa girl/model in the photos looks pretty cute/hot ^^


her?

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/1D090O3.jpg

[TB4000]

her?

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/1D090O3.jpg

I think I saw her at the mall eating a cinnabon, going into Rave Girl talking about how her mom was such a bitch and constantly repeating the phrase, "SHUT.....UP!!!"

[hooligan]

I think I saw her at the mall eating a cinnabon, going into Rave Girl talking about how her mom was such a bitch and constantly repeating the phrase, "SHUT.....UP!!!"
no, that's not her, who else is there?

[mr. x]

I think I saw her at the mall eating a cinnabon, going into Rave Girl talking about how her mom was such a bitch and constantly repeating the phrase, "SHUT.....UP!!!"
i think i saw her in "big black di-"

nevermind :rolleyes:

[Napoleon Chynamite]

her?

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/1D090O3.jpg

Yeah. Actually I think the Asian girl looks the best but...the hapa girl above stood out more cause she was...hapa? I dunno.

[missmeow]

That shirt is cute.

[nonamerasian]

Yeah, I'm liking that shirt.

[SunWuKong]

Yeah. Actually I think the Asian girl looks the best but...the hapa girl above stood out more cause she was...hapa? I dunno.


she's cute. but i like this one better.

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/1H414O2.jpg

[mr. x]

^---she looks totally white, not that it takes away from her (or maybe a light skinned bollywood chick)

interestingly enough theres this white girl in my geog class that reminds me of frink

[SunWuKong]

^---she looks totally white, not that it takes away from her (or maybe a light skinned bollywood chick)

yeah i think this one may be totally white.

interestingly enough theres this white girl in my geog class that reminds me of frink

yes that's interesting. so what else reminds you of frink........?

[mr. x]

yeah i think this one may be totally white.



yes that's interesting. so what else reminds you of frink........?
id say it but i dont wanna single HANDedly close this thread :tongue:

[lena99]

I like the Shanghai Tang brand, though it's overpriced.
But at least it gives you ideas, and make your own stuff.

[applehead]

my sister was a sales person
at shanghai tang before the store closed
here in nyc and i bought a couple of jackets.
i love mandarin collars/nehru collars
it's very flattering.
it elongates my face and makes it look smaller.
all in all, i think, though, mandarin collars plus the
asian inspired prints (dragons,fans blah blah blah)
looks a bit ridiculous on non-asian people.

[rice cracker]

all in all, i think, though, mandarin collars plus the
asian inspired prints (dragons,fans blah blah blah)
looks a bit ridiculous on non-asian people.

Like a Scottish kilt would on a Cambodian?

[kimpossible]

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/1D090O3.jpg

Ooh. No thanks. I'll pass.

I dunno, I'd just feel like a poser wearing some of the stuff on that Shanghai Tang site.

Yeah, I've operated under the impression that because I already look faintly Asian if I gear up in stuff like that I'll look like major poser. I think you can get away with some of it if you're either an extremely Asian looking hapa or a full Asian but it could also go horribly wrong and run really close to the random-character on clothing with chopstick in hair ensemble.

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/1E134L3.jpg

I'd wear the sweater like that though. I like simpler, no dragons or characters or fans or chopstick font, etc.

[rice cracker]

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/1E134L3.jpg

I'd wear the sweater like that though. I like simpler, no dragons or characters or fans or chopstick font, etc.

It's like we share a closet. No dragons. Ever.

[Kuchana]

I don't feel all that comfortable wearing Asian-themed clothes for some reason. Don't own one except two items that has the mandarin collar but all in all, I prefer to stay away from it.

[Cipherous]

she's cute. but i like this one better.

http://www.shanghaitang.com/shanghaitang/prod_large_images/1H414O2.jpgthat white chick blows away the other one.

[thaite]

they have nice cufflinks

[SunWuKong]

Like a Scottish kilt would on a Cambodian?


you know, i was really trying to find you a picture of an Asian person wearing a kilt. CMU's marching band uniforms included kilts. the band is called "The Kiltie Band". i was browsing around on their website and it seems like all their members had been white. there was a sizable Asian population at CMU, being very tech oriented, but apparently all of them elected to not join a band where kilt-wearing is required.

I'd wear the sweater like that though. I like simpler, no dragons or characters or fans or chopstick font, etc.


girls should be wearing phoenix designs anyway. :biggrin:

[Sledge]

Wow, I really like those.
SunWuKong, my wallet has declared war on you.

I think I'd feel self-conscious wearing them in public, though. I get like that when I think I'm being OMG LOOK I'M AZN. I have issues.

[kimpossible]

girls should be wearing phoenix designs anyway. :biggrin:


ahahahaha. :biggrin:

edit: I was going to say something earlier but two thoughts came to mind. One, no one might get it and two, coming from me it might be show offy more sinophile than thou.