Shiatzy Chen
| File:Shiatzy.png | |
| Company type | Privately held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Shiatzy Chen(王陳彩霞),Wang Yuan-hong (王元宏) |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | Worldwide boutiques |
Key people | Shiatzy Chen(王陳彩霞)Head Designer |
| Products | Luxury goods |
| Website | shiatzychen.com |
Shiatzy Chen (夏姿) is a fashion designer and the eponym of her luxury goods brand. She was born in 1951 in Changhua, Taiwan and founded the company in 1978. Shiatzy adopts Chinese aesthetics in combination with western cuttings and Chinese handcrafting techniques[1].
Changhua-born Chen was not formally educated in the industry but learned her trade by working at her uncle's factory. She met her husband Wang Yuan-hong (王元宏), a smart businessman in the textile trade, and together they founded Shiatzy International Company Limited in 1978,which they maintain total control.For over 30 years Chen worked on making her name in the local market and had built a client list of nearly 25,000 people,in 2009 sales reached about US$30 million, according to the company. Wives of politicians, diplomats and business executives, in particular, would stuff their wardrobes with Shiatzy's dresses before taking trips abroad. In fact, these women, with their significant purchasing power, constitute the majority of the company's customers in Taiwan many of whom are high society types.In 1990,Shiatzy Chen set up a studio in Paris to stay on top of fashion trends and to learn more about Western dressmaking techniques. The studio also serves as a training center for Taiwanese dressmakers and designers.
A line of men's wear was added to the company's product list in 1987.The label men's wear line has a strong following among politicians, technology millionaires, banking and telecoms tycoons,artistic types, costume collectors and clotheshorses.Although Shiatzy Chen does not have a bespoke men's line, a part of her men's wear business is devoted to the sale of off-the-peg expensive chang paos intended for weddings and traditional engagement parties. [2].
Designer Chen entered the Chinese market in 2003 in Shanghai and opened up further stores in Hong Kong and Beijing.Shiatzy Chen’s Shanghai flagship store,which opened in October 2005,exhibit a distinctively Chinese heritage amidst the parade of Western fashion marques that now dominate The Bund.The building’s Chinese pedigree made it an obvious location for Ms. Shiatzy Chen’s ambition to create a strong Chinese presence on the Bund.Work on restoring the original, red brick exterior look and on converting offices into a modern and artistic showplace for Shiatzy Chen’s exquisite creations began in late 2001. The interior was fashioned by the renowned Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim. This is in addition to the 47 outlets she already has in Taiwan. The company presently has over 200 employees and manufactures more than 100,000 items of clothing each year.After years of running a factory in suburban Taipei, the company opened its second one in Shanghai in 2007. More than 100 workers including dressmakers and embroiderers are employed to produce tens of thousands of clothing items annually based on over 400 styles created by its designers. [3].
In 2001, Shiatzy Chen branched into the international market with a store in Paris,along with more stores in New York and possibly,in London,which made the Taiwanese fashion brand the first to enter the European market and attracted the attention of fashionistas around the world. Shiatzy Chen is one of the few homegrown designer labels in Taiwan with an international clientele.Mainland China remains the primary focus , with a factory and an office in Shanghai and a target of 50 mainland stores by 2010.The label has also been trying to diversify its product line. About three years ago, it began expanding its catalogue with accessories—sold in all Shiatzy stores—and furniture, available at the three flagship stores in Taipei, Shanghai and Paris.The label has been listed on the London-based Financial Times pick of what is hot in 2004,it was also deemed the most popular fashion brand in Taiwan by the Asian Wall Street Journal. Shiatzy Chen designs attract many famous clients such as Shaw-Lan Wang,Lin Chi-ling,Patty Hou,Brigitte Lin,Rainie Yang,Ting-Ting Hu,Dee Hsu,Aska Yang,Leehom Wang,Jason Hu,Ming Dow and the current President of Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou[4].
In 2008 Chen prepares her label’s Paris Fashion Week debut, Shiatzy Chen becomes just the second Taiwanese design house to show a collection at the official Paris Fashion Week (the first was Yufengshawn, 馭風騷, in 2005).The debut of Shiatzy Chen’s spring/summer 2009 collection in October is also a highlight as the label celebrates its 30th anniversary.The show was of great significance for the fashion label because it was one of the official events of the Paris Fashion Week.They quickly drew the attention of more than 200 international buyers, media members and fashion aficionados, impressing them with outfits that have distinctive Chinese design features.The fashion house now plans to take part in the event regularly in order to build a global reputation.[5]Shiatzy Chen recently opened Cha Cha Thé/采采食茶文化,an upscale tea lounge bar in Taipei.Customers show up for pricey afternoon tea meals and buy designer tea ware and other expensively packaged gifts.There are plans to open similar shops in Beverly Hills, New York City and London.
External links
- Official Shiatzy Chen website
- Official Cha Cha Thé/采采食茶文化 website
- Taiwan Review-Here comes Shiatzy
- Taiwan Review-Sartorial Elegance, Oriental Style