Getting Bigger in Japan?

Just one percent of my visitors were from Japan over the last year. Obviously, there is a language issue, but I would expect a country so interested in personal style to take more of an interest in how its neighbors dress (and to what extent they hipsters in Shibuya and Harajuku).

Fortunately, Chiemi Isozaki from Japanese online publication Hitspaper just interviewed me (click here for the piece in Japanese) . Select “more” for the Engish.

To Dubai

Sad to leave London, just for fun and to see if it as fantastic as is purported, I am heading to Dubai tomorrow for the first time. Apparently, there is not much walking on streets there, so local styles are probably only visible in the malls and high-end hotels. It will be nice to visit the tallest building in the world. I will be back in Beijing next Monday.

China – A Chance for European Designers?

Finally, I have a spare moment to mention my experience on the “China – A Chance for Young European Designers” panel in Berlin.

A growing number of foreign fashion designers are landing in China. History’s greatest economic miracle now might provide both markets for foreign brands and employment for foreign talent. This latest generation of foreigners focused on China is young, based here rather than overseas, and sees its future with Chinese companies as this market continues to expand.

我终于有空来写在柏林参加的以“中国–年轻欧洲设计师的舞台”为主题的研讨会了。

越来越多的外国设计师开始在中国落脚了。中国,这样一个历史上经济的奇迹,向外国品牌提供市场也为外国设计师们的天赋提供舞台。最新的一批年轻的外国设计师选择在中国拓宽市场,展望他们的未来。

Appallingly Busy

Upon arrival in Beijing I found a seemingly infinite number of things requiring handling. My magazine is having a big party tonight, the August issue has to be wrapped up in the next few days and I haven’t even started writing, tomorrow there’s a photo shoot for my “Stylish Traveler” column in National Geographic Traveler 《时尚旅游》, and my column for China International Business is due.

一回北京我好像又开始被各种各样的事务缠身了。

Panel Discussion in Berlin

I just arrived in green Berlin and have already rented a bike and seen more of the city in one day than I did on all previous trips combined. On Wednesday (July 7) I will be talking about blogging in China and opportunities for young European designers there, as part of a panel discussion called “CHINA – A Chance for Young European Designers”. ESMOD Deutschland is the organizer of this discussion.

Other participants include Nancy Koh, CEO of Hempel Group China; Oliver Schütt, TMS Fashion LTd., Beijing; Marios Schwab, designer for “Marios” London and Creative Director for Halston New York; and David Ubl, Art Director Royal Elastics, Beijing, China. The venue is HKW on John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Berlin, and the time is 2 pm.