:: taken in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; a pedicab driver wearing Warrior (回力) sneakers.  // AjS

:: I stumbled on this interesting graphic while checking out Rou Bo’s (肉博) photo blog, which pointed me to E E E E E E E E’s photo blog, who is one of the creative forces behind Perk Art Studio. There is more on Perk Art Studio at their official (single page!) website. Also, check out their Taobao shop. Perk Art Studio is a Shanghai-based Chinese indie brand that designs clothing and accessories.  // AjS

:: taken in Shanghai inside Even Penniless, a women’s boutique on Changle Rd., near Ruijin Rd. I quite like this shop, it’s full of minimalist black, white, and grey clothing designed by Shanghai-based fashionisto Gao Xin. There is not a woman on the planet that wouldn’t look great in his stuff. I wish he had a men’s line.  // AjS

:: “为人民服务” is a classic revolutionary Chinese phrase meaning “to serve the people.” Lei Feng is legendary historical figure and model citizen / comrade who dedicated his life to serving the people and the Chinese communist party / government.

Chinese mega sports brand 李宁 (Li Ning) has combined the man / myth and the unforgettable phrase in the release of a new limited edition shoe, the “为李宁服务” 雷锋 001 (“To serve Li Ning” Lei Feng 001) – a cheeky play on words that capitalizes on the retro-military look of Lei Feng-era design. A cross between classic and over the top, but carried off with panache.

“为李宁服务” 雷锋 001s are not cheap. A pair will cost you RMB 2800, and that’s only if you can find them.

If you liked these, there is plenty more shoe pornography at Dunk.com.cn to check out.  // XD

[Xiao Du (小杜) is a guest contributor on 56minus1]

:: I recently posted about my good friend Helen Lee (Shanghai-based fashion designer behind the brand insh) presenting her new fall / winter collection, MIGRATE, as part of Shanghai’s 2009 Fashion Week. I attended the show and brought my video camera along – below is the view from the cat walk.  // AjS

This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.

:: my good friend Helen Lee (of insh) will be presenting her fall / winter collection, MIGRATE, this evening as part of Shanghai’s 2009 Fashion Week. Link here for more details: English / Chinese.  Doors open at 7:30. Come hang out with the cool kids. It will be great. // AjS

[photo by Yocky Zhang, photoshoping by 55, clothing design by Helen Lee]

:: the winner of the Danwei + Plastered + Neocha = RMB 888 t-shirt design contest is Li Zengshan of Weihai, Shandong Province. See his design below…and yes, that’s pretty much the way it looks at Danwei.org headquarters.

Mr Li gets 888 yuan courtesy of Plastered T-shirts, and his design will be turned into a T-shirt in the next two weeks to be sold at Plastered stores and online. Thanks very much to all contest participants: if you would like to receive a gift as a token of our appreciation for your efforts, please email your postal address to .  // AJS

:: Shanghai’s streetwear scene is about to get a little more crowded. Urban threads superpower Stussy appears to be setting up shop on the corner of Changle Rd. and Shanxi Rd.

I wonder if similar brands will soon be touching down in Shanghai (or Beijing) to take advantage of the growing global demand for streetwear. And will local Chinese consumers react favorably to Stussy’s arrival? There seems to be a lot of growth potential in this market especially with the upcoming 2009 Shanghai X Games happening April 30th – May 3rd.

This follows a recent announcement by high-end streetwear retailer ACU (also located on Changle Rd.) saying it will be closing up shop from early May 2009 until the end of summer / early fall for re-branding and an enhanced sales environment.

Hopefully an official announcement leaks from Stussy soon.  //

[ is a guest contributor on 56minus1]

:: Over the weekend I spotted this pair of classic Warrior (回力) tennies while walking up the stairs of my friend’s house (who lives in this old neighborhood). The shoes were his neighbors. Simple, comfortable, classic.  // AjS

:: I recently came across yet another brand of revived retro Chinese sneakers called Shulong (舒龙). Like Feiyue, Shulong has apparently also been bought by a French company / entrepreneur and revamped for international consumers, being sold mainly in France and other select locations in Europe.

Despite what appears to be Shulong advertising itself as being around in China since the 30’s (and originally a favorite among local monks), I’ve been unable to find any “pre-hipsterfication” information about the brand. Does anyone know anything more?

At any rate, they are pretty cool and definitely embody a classic Chinese sneaker charm. See below for photos of Shulong’s latest collection. According to Shulong’s Web site, the shoes are available for sale in China (Beijing & Shanghai). For more 56minus1 posts on retro Chinese sneakers, link here, here, here, and here.  // AjS

:: I sat down yesterday with local artist and designer Roger Chan (陳中海) to discuss his new collection of unisex bags called TAXI by Chan.

I recently purchased one of his bags in Shanghai at Loomoo and was struck by its organic and natural Chinese characteristics. I asked Chan why the collection is called “TAXI” and his response affirmed by first impression.

“I named the collection TAXI because taxis are everywhere in Shanghai and in China. They also represent a certain openness and extroverted character that I use in the colors of my bags. It’s also about being close to the street.”

Chan says he draws inspiration from old Chinese things. The green canvas bag he was carrying yesterday was modeled after bags used by postmen in Shanghai years ago.

Chen’s main customers are Shanghainese youth. TAXI by Chan’s subtle and mature styles are in direct contrast to the flashy glitz and materialistic nature of higher-end designer bags perhaps more popular among the mainstream demographic in Shanghai / China. His most recent collection features materials from local fabric stores and utilizes canvas and other industrial materials.

Chan began designing and producing bags as a hobby in college and only later decided to pursue design as a full-time profession. He has been putting out bag collections for the past three years.

“When I’m not designing, I like to spend most of my time relaxing,” he said as he smoked cigarette after cigarette.

Many designers in Shanghai force patterns and trends down the throats of consumers. But Chan remains consistent with his simple and classic style. This is clearly reflected in this most recent collection.

A recent quote from John C. Jay, Co-Executive Creative Director of W+K Tokyo (and blogger at honeyee.com) examines a recent youth Japanese consumer trend: “Young Japanese consumers have turned their attention to local brands, not because of price but for the uniqueness that they offer.”

China is not quite reached that tipping point yet, but once they are tired of the “Westernization” of their consumer goods, designers like Roger Chan will step up to satiate their local flavor.

TAXI by Chan can be purchased at Shanghai retailers such as Loomoo (348 Shanxi Bei Rd.) and other select shops. Visit his website to see more of TAXI by Chan at www.bychvan.cn. Chan can be reached by e-mail at rogerchan1900 -AT- gmail -DOT- com.  //

[ is a guest contributor on 56minus1]

:: wenyi qingnian (文艺青年) kids in Chengdu hanging out and hawking their wares. // AjS

:: for those that don’t know, TaoBao.com is the eBay of China. As with eBay, it’s chock full of listings of more of the same. Sometimes though, something shines through the dross and catches your eye.

An indie design “shop” in Beijing called I Hate You, has done some wonderful work in making their products interesting.

For each product, they do full-on DIY advertisements and actually write some decent copy. The result is much more compelling than the typical, stale product shots on sellers’ coffee tables. I’ve gone ahead and shared some of the ads below. Check out I Hate You’s Taobao shop here. Bravo, well done.  // XD

[Xiao Du (小杜) is a guest contributor on 56minus1]

:: I’m a fan of Chinese retro and “revolutionary” footwear. This past weekend I picked up another pair of Shanghai-made Warrior / Huili (回力) trainers. The shoes are great, of course, but check out the packaging. This is a beautiful, timeless shoebox. The font and copy are nearly perfect, especially the line: 穿回力鞋, 走成功路, which In English is something like “Wear Huili Shoes, Walk the Road of Success.” It’s so much better in Chinese, perhaps that’s why Huili didn’t bother translating it. Bravo, well done.  // AjS

:: this kinda baffles me. Double Star (双星), a well-known, longstanding, and hitherto legit Chinese sneaker brand, appears to be shanzhai’ing its competition. I took this picture at an official Double Star store in Chengdu over the weekend. Also worth noting, while walking by a local soccer pitch, I saw kids in Chengdu wearing many (MANY) different kinds of shanzhai’ed Feiyue – at least a dozen unique varieties. What is going on? This is great!  // AjS

Interestingly, when I tried to go to Double Star’s official Web site (www.doublestar.com.cn), Firefox and Google presented me with the below friendly messages. Honestly, can a brand get any dodgier?