Celine bursts onto the China scene

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May 28, 2014

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Celine bursts onto the China scene

By Patsy Yang | May 28, 2014, Wednesday |

Print Edition

A fashion savvy crowd gathered last week at the capital’s famous 798 Art Zone to see what Phoebe Philo’s Celine woman has been up to. Famous singer Faye Wong, who looked great in an oversized Celine coat, made a rare public appearance at the French fashion house’s first runway show in China.

Philo shed the discreet, minimalist tag for the fall/winter 2014-15 collection that has stuck since she took the helm of this Parisian luxury brand in 2008. Tropical greenery, bright lighting and an aged parquet flooring created the ambience of an indoor garden for those who came for the show of understated, comfort but not at the sacrifice of style.

As an exploration of strong women in men’s clothing that was re-invented to assert a more gentle and feminine silhouette, the collection upheld the importance of hand-craftsmanship over manufactured outfits. Feathered and frayed seams, the juxtaposition of unlikely fabrics and earrings strung together from found objects suggested spontaneity and instinct are valuable in the creation of clothes.

In an important step in the evolution of the house, the event marked the first time the Celine collection has been shown on a runway outside its Parisian home. To mark the occasion Celine made exclusive silk tops, silk scarves and an iconic mini-tie bag in orange for China.

“I wanted to approach the collection from the gut, for it to feel touched by human hands — wild, tender and strong,” said Philo, Celine’s creative director.

“It’s our first time to have a fashion show in China and it’s the first time for Philo to visit the country,’’ said Marco Gobbetti, chairman and CEO of Celine. “We would like to present the brand’s true value to our customers more closely. Celine’s DNA is modernity, creative design, quality and functionality, to set style instead of following trends, to establish the luxury of today.”

Expanding Celine’s presence on the Chinese mainland further, a duplex store just opened in Chengdu in April and a flagship store will open at Plaza 66 in Shanghai later this year.

Gobbetti said the Plaza 66 outlet will carry the latest Celine concept store design, including an intimate ready-to-wear area and a big back facade.

Gobetti said that although Celine is known as a ready-to-wear brand, accessories are an important and growing part of its business.

“We are doing what we shall do in China,” Gobetti said. “We do focus on our products and we do care about the experience our customers have in our stores. In the short term, we would like to keep building a solid network in the Chinese market.”

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Celine bursts onto the China scene

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