Mei Ping

From Australia, Mei Ping Doery is International Business Development Manager at NC STYLE, here in Beijing. I recently had a chat with her.

NF: What brought you into the fashion world? Is your life more now glamorous?

澳洲人Mei Ping是NC STYLE的国际业务发展经理的。我最近跟她聊了一会。

MP: Fashion is about self expression and creating an aspirational and glamorous lifestyle that essentially, people want to buy. I think the glamorous element is actually a bit of a facade when you work in the industry. I remember one of my first jobs in a boutique in Melbourne. Al the girls working there always looked stunning. We were fortunate enough to be able to wear the most amazing designer pieces to work each day but at the same time had to prance around a store looking glamorous for 8 hours a day in 6 inch heels! Nothing glamorous about that!

NF: Is there any city in Australia as glamorous as Beijing?

MP: It is not the same as the bling bling glamour that is all too common in Beijing but I think there is something uniquely glamorous about the Australian lifestyle. We know how to enjoy life and most Australians are lucky enough to live and work near the sea in a pristine natural environment. So I think in certain areas particularly around Melbourne and Sydney, yes in its own way.

NF: There must be some unique challenges you face in marketing to mainland Chinese. What is some advice you might give to foreigner brands trying to develop here?

MP: Give it time and develop a long term strategy. The market has only really opened up in the last 15 years and it has come leaps and bounds since then. For many of the smaller labels we work with many of them are aggressive in their expectations of the market here. While there is tremendous potential and consumer tastes are becoming much more sophisticated there are fundamental challenges particularly in distribution that still makes it very challenging for younger labels to be successful here.

In addition to this, while we are bringing in new labels it is also so important to spend time educating the local fashion market. Because the industry is relatively new many people working in fashion here have had limited experience in the fashion industry themselves. So when bringing a new brand into the market it is not only important to make it available but also nurture and encourage the industry to look at and recognize good quality and design that isn’t from top tier luxury fashion houses.

NF: Any style advice for Beijing girls? Do you think style in the capital is improving?

MP: Beijing style is improving rapidly. Even since I arrived a few years ago I have noticed a significant change in people’s style and desire to express themselves. Chinese people in general people are really starting to experiment with different looks, styles and interpretations of international trends. I think because of Beijing’s influence of culture and the arts people really get it here. While there still is some distance to go I think there are definitely more and more ultra trendy people in Beijing that could give many European and NY fashionistas a run for their money.

I think people should have fun with fashion. Although while its great to experiment with different looks my biggest piece of fashion advice is to not be too obsessed with trends and fads. Style is really captured through finding a look that enhances and suits your own aesthetic, personality and lifestyle.

NF: Do locals find you to be beautiful? Why or why not?

MP: I think intrigued more than anything. Being Eurasian most Chinese people are always curious to know where I am from. When I ask them to guess I get everything from Korean, Spanish, Middle Eastern to French. No one ever seems to guess I am from Australia though.

NF: What are your favorite luxury and fashion brands? Any Chinese designers?

MP: Chloe, Vanessa Bruno and one of my all time favorite Australian labels – Scanlan & Theodore. One of my favorite Chinese women’s wear designers is Lu Lu 12.28 for her use of beautiful fabrications and really wearable pieces. Another one to look out for is Zhang Chi – I think he will be big.

NF: What are your favorite hotels, restaurants, bars, galleries, etc. in Beijing?

MP: If proximity to the CBD and budget are not of concern then you can’t go past the Aman at the Summer Palace – truly exquisite. I love Yotsuba for Beijing’s freshest and most authentic Japanese, Capital for M for a fancy meal and to admire the contemporary Art Deco inspired design and Pace is one of my favorite galleries out in 798.

MP: 时尚是关于自我的一种诠释，而且从本质上来说是人们一直想拥有的一种理想的而又充满魅力的生活方式。但是，当你真正在这个领域工作时，这种光鲜华丽的魅力却会有点褪色。我记得自己其中的第一份工作是在墨尔本的一家饰品店，在那里工作的每一个女孩都都看起来很漂亮很吸引人，并且我们很幸运能够每天都穿戴着最棒的设计师作品工作，但是在不得不踩着六英寸高的高跟鞋，看起来很迷人地在店里面走来走去八个小时的情况下，那种生活没有一点魅力可言。