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Qeelin

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Qeelin
Founded2004 (2004)
FounderDennis Chan
Guillaume Brochard
HeadquartersHong Kong SAR，China
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Dennis Chan (Creative Director)
Christophe Artaux (CEO)
ProductsJewellery and accessories
ParentKering
WebsiteQeelin.com

Qeelin is a fine jewellery company established in 2004 in Hong Kong by Dennis Chan and Guillaume Brochard. The brand's products refer to mystical or superstitious symbols strongly embedded in Chinese culture. The name Qeelin comes from the qilin, (麒麟) a legendary hooved chimerical creature that appears in Chinese mythology.[1]

The company is headquartered in Hong-Kong, and is owned by the French luxury group Kering.

History

Launch in Paris

The idea of creating a luxury brand strongly embedded in the Chinese culture came to the designer Dennis Chan while visiting the Dunhuang Caves along the Silk Road in 1997. He co-founded with Guillaume Brochard the luxury jewellery company Qeelin in 2004 in Paris.[2][3] Qeelin's first collection, the Wulu, became a hit after actress Maggie Cheung wore it at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.[4]

In 2009, Qeelin opened its first store in Paris, inside the Palais-Royal.[5]

Acquisition by Kering

In January 2013, the French luxury group Kering acquired a majority stake in Qeelin, the group's first acquisition in China. By then, Qeelin had 50 employees and 14 stores worldwide.[6][7]

The acquisition enabled Qeelin to accelerate store openings (7 new stores in the first year), and to launch its first high jewelry collection.[8][9] In 2015, Guillaume Brochard left the company, and Christophe Artaux became the CEO of Qeelin.[10]

Timeline

  • 2004: Launch in Paris.
  • 2004: Qeelin gained worldwide publicity when actress Maggie Cheung wore the Wulu during the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
  • 2009: Parisian store opened in Palais-Royal.
  • 2013: Qeelin was acquired by Kering.
  • 2015: Qeelin started distribution in the USA.
  • 2018: Chinese actress Gulnazar became Qeelin's brand ambassador.
  • 2019: Chinese Actor Xiao Zhan became brand ambassador.
  • 2020: Chinese actress Liu Shishi became Qeelin's brand spokesperson.
  • 2020: Chinese actor Chen Feiyu became Qeelin's Millennial ambassador.
  • 2022: Chinese actor Liu Haoran became Qeelin's brand spokesperson.
  • 2023: Korean singer and actress Im Yoon-ah was the first South Korean artist to become Qeelin's brand spokesperson.

Designs

The company's first collection was the Wulu, which revisited the legendary Chinese gourd, an auspicious emblem in Chinese tradition. Often inspired by mythical or superstitious myths, Qeelin's following creations used the symbols of the panda (Bo Bo), bells (Ling Long), kissing goldfish (Qin Qin), and dogs (Wang Wang).[11]

In 2009, Qeelin launched a line of rare jadeite jewels.[12] In 2010, Qeelin launched Maggie's bangles, a set of bracelets initially worn by Maggie Cheung.[13] In 2012, Qeelin launched the XiXi collection to celebrate the Lion in the Chinese culture.[14] In 2016, Qeelin collaborated with Chinese visual artist Chen Man to design a limited edition of the Bo Bo pendant.[15] In 2017, Qeelin released 8 rooster designs to celebrate the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese zodiac.[16]

Retailing

Activities

Qeelin Boutique in the Palais-Royal in Paris.

Qeelin is a Chinese fine jewellery company whose products refer to mystical or superstitious symbols strongly embedded in the Chinese culture. Qeelin uses meticulous craftsmanship to create its China-inspired jewellery, and nurtures a «East meets West» philosophy to appeal to an international audience.[17]

Qeelin opened its first store in Taiwan in 2009, and its first store in Shanghai in 2010.[18] In June 2014, the company announced its intention to double in 2 years the number of Qeelin stores in China to 24.[19]

In 2015, Qeelin started to retail its products in the USA through a handful of stores, initially to cater to the Chinese diaspora in North America.[20][21]

In 2017, Qeelin opened its first store in Thailand.[22]

In 2018, Qeelin chose Chinese actress Gulnazar to become its new brand ambassador.[23]

Retail stores

As of 2023 Qeelin operates 100 stores on the world and 60 in China.

Some of those stores include :

Management

Qeelin is based in Hong Kong SAR and owned by the French luxury group Kering.

CEOs

  • 2004-2015: Guillaume Brochard
  • Since 2015: Christophe Artaux

Creative directors

  • Since 2004: Dennis Chan (also co-founder)

See also

References

  1. ^ Cristina Blanaru (9 December 2013). "Fred & Farid Shanghai made qilins real to promote a jewelry brand". Adhugger.net. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  2. ^ Divia Harilela (13 October 2016). "Dennis Chan: "Qeelin's jewel elicit emotions". Prestigeonline.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  3. ^ Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle (13 October 2014). "Q&A With Guillaume Brochard, CEO Of Chinese Luxury Jewelry Brand Qeelin". Forbes.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  4. ^ Ruonan Zheng (22 May 2018). "How Qeelin Thrives Where Other Chinese Luxury Brands Fail". Jingdaily.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  5. ^ Matthieu Guinebault (23 September 2009). "Le joaillier Qeelin s'installe au Palais Royal". Fashionnetwork.com (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. ^ Jennifer Reingold (19 December 2013). "Gucci, Chanel, and ... Qeelin?". Fortune.com.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  7. ^ "PPR buys jeweller Qeelin to expand in China". Reuters.com. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Dennis Chan, Creative Director and Chairman, Qeelin". Elitetraveler.com. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  9. ^ Joelle Diderich (1 July 2014). "Qeelin Toasts High-Jewelry Line". Wwd.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Kering says Christophe Artaux named Qeelin CEO". Reuters.com. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  11. ^ Stephen Short (1 August 2017). "The Rise of Qeelin Jewellery". Hashtaglegend.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Jade Jewelry Takes A Contemporary Turn". Jingdaily.com. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  13. ^ Mélody Kandyoti (3 May 2010). "Les bracelets de Maggie Cheung chez Qeelin". Puretrend.com (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Jeweler Qeelin's XiXi Collection Celebrates Traditional Lion Dance". Jingdaily.com. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  15. ^ Vivian Chen (15 December 2016). "Chinese photographer and artist redefines contemporary Eastern beauty". Scmp.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  16. ^ Carolyn Meers (24 May 2017). "Trend to Watch: Wild and Wearable Animal Jewelry". Robbreport.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  17. ^ "葫蘆形首飾打響名堂 Qeelin推入門版 網購$10,000搞掂". Edigest.hk (in Chinese). 14 June 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Qeelin Opens First Store In Shanghai". Jingdaily.com. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Qeelin expands in mainland China". Insideretail.asia. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  20. ^ Jenifer Thompson (20 June 2016). "Asian brands go west chasing holiday shoppers". Ft.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  21. ^ Jill Newman (10 April 2016). "A Celebrated Hong Kong Jewelry Designer Debuts in the States". Robbreport.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  22. ^ Kupluthai Pungkanon (30 November 2017). "Poise, playfulness and oriental beauty". Nationmaultimedia.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  23. ^ Reggie Ho (18 April 2018). "Chinese actress Guli Nazha is the new face for Qeelin's Wulu diamond collection". Scmp.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
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