Will "Made in China" Ever Be Considered Luxury?

Photo: Shang Xia website

When one thinks of the origin of luxury goods, two countries come to mind without hesitation - Italy and France - they are the top two countries that originate the most high-end luxury brands for apparel and accessories.  Even for non-luxury brands such as J. Crew, marketing an item to the public as "Made in Italy" creates a sense that it was made with superior craftsmanship and higher quality materials which comes along with premium pricing, of course.  

Meanwhile, "Made in China" has always been synonymous with cheap materials and poorly constructed goods made with sweatshop labor.  That has been the case for decades with no Chinese labels ever catching on internationally as a luxury label.  However, as China continues to rise and the Chinese nouveau riche quench their insatiable thirst for luxury, a few Chinese brands are trying to change that - one even has the help of Hermès.


Mary Ching, known as "the Louboutin of Shanghai" is "proudly" 100% made in China.  It was founded by Alison Yeung, a half-Chinese, half-British designer who attended the prestigious Central Satin Martins in London.  Her shoes are over the top (literally!) with high heels and exotic skins; they are priced at about $500 a pair. 

Ms. Yeung said, "Our mission statement, and what I believe defines Mary Ching as a business, is pioneering that we are proud to be made in China, created in Shanghai. There is a stigma associated with ‘made in China’ where most consumers believe designs are copied, mass produced and low in quality. I want to show the world that made in China can be unique, high quality and original."

Shang Xia (Mandarin for "up down") is a subsidiary of Hermès, but will have almost all of its products produced in China.  Like Hermès, Shang Xia caters to the uber-wealthy with price points just slightly lower than Hermès.  They sell clothing, jewelry, furniture, houseware, etc. and  have retail locations in Shanghai, Beijing, and soon Rue de Sèvres in Saint Germain, Paris. 

Shang Xia's CEO, Jiang Qiong Er explained, “Shang Xia is a platform where we show the Chinese art of living with beautiful, quality, luxury objects. Shang Xia is based on Chinese craftsmanship, Chinese history, Chinese tradition, the Chinese art of living. Our mission is not only a brand, it is not only to make some style. It’s also to bring the craft, the tradition, into today and tomorrow.”

Qeelin, a Chinese fine jewelry maker was recently acquired by PPR SA, a French company, which recognized the role China has in the luxury market.  Qeelin is known as the "Tiffany of China" and was founded in 2004 by Chinese designer Dennis Chan and French entrepreneur Guillaume Brochard.  François-Henri Pinault, chief executive of PPR, noted, "Qeelin is on a natural path to develop in China, but it has an international potential also."

The East-West connection of Chinese luxury brands is undeniable and underscores the importance of a Western affiliation when Chinese brands present themselves to the Western world. 

Read More:
WSJ: The New Cachet of "Made in China"
Red Luxury: Shang Xia Bets on Bringing Chinese Culture to Luxury
eChinaCities.com: The Rise of Chinese Luxury Brands