STYLEETC. From left:
STYLEETC. From left: vertiginous snakeskin heels by Mary Ching; crisp Pye bandcollared shirt made with cotton sourced from the province of Xinjiang The style report LOOK EAST Born and bred in China, these homegrown firms are stepping up to compete with western rivals on a global scale By Divia Harilela Limited edition piece from Qeelin’s XI XI Couture line, with 18K white gold and pavé diamonds, rubies and onyx It’s no secret that the Chinese market has an insatiable appetite for Western brands, but might the West soon be equally enamoured with Chinese labels? A handful of companies conceived and founded in China are drawing upon the country’s rich heritage to create an array of items that appeal to cosmopolitan consumers both at home and abroad. PYE The brains behind China’s most wanted men’s shirting label is Dee Poon, a stylish 30 year old who also happens to be the daughter of Harvey Nichols owner and fashion tycoon Dickson Poon. The Harvard graduate started her fashion career in 2008 when she joined her mother’s manufacturing business, during which time she stumbled upon Pye, a defunct fashion label, which she eventually relaunched as a shirting specialist in 2012. Pye is one of a few fashion labels that boasts a completely integrated operation with a team that stretches from cotton growers to engineers. It uses some of the best cotton in the world (much of it is sourced from the Xinjiang region of China), along with cutting-edge technologies and specially developed yarns to produce not only seasonal ready-to-wear collections, but also a customisation service available at its five stores in Hong Kong and China. The latest news is a collaboration with Cathay Pacific on its first-class sleeper suits. pye.com.hk CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: © MARY CHING, © PYE, © QEELIN 46 departures-international.com
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