The Concept

Shanghai Tang sets out to create the first global Chinese lifestyle brand by revitalizing Chinese designs - interweaving traditional Chinese culture with the dynamism of the 21st Century. Thus, resulting in a vibrant fusion of "East Meets West." In fashion, Shanghai Tang continues to evolve its distinctive style whilst employing elegance, comfort and vitality. In hard goods, Shanghai Tang's products are created for everyday use, emphasizing functionality, and always integrating the use of the Chinese motifs into their design. Shanghai Tang always uses the highest quality of materials, workmanship and much inventiveness in the construction of all their products.

The Story

Shanghai Tang was founded in 1994 by Hong Kong businessman, David Tang Wing-Cheung. "Shanghai Tang is the best of 5,000 years of Chinese tradition exploding into the 21st Century", says Mr. Tang. The name, "Shanghai Tang", evokes the elegance and charm of fashionable Shanghai in the 1930's. In its first year, 1994, the store attracted over one million visitors. By the year 2000, this had surpassed four million. Already, Shanghai Tang offers an expanding range of home furnishings, accessories, novelty gift items, and a collection of men's, ladies' and children's apparel - all of which enhance the concept of revitalized Chinese arts. Unique to Shanghai Tang is Imperial Tailors, which revives the diminishing art of "Chinese haute couture" - delicately crafted apparel redelivered by a team of traditional Shanghainese tailors. Lush cut velvets; silk jacquards, chiffon, organza, delicate linens, and printed cottons provide an exciting collection of brilliant colors and textures from which a full range of exclusive designs may be chosen.

The Flagship Store

Shanghai Tang's flagship store occupies 12,000 square feet of the historic Pedder Building in Central, Hong Kong. Two full floors exude vibrant charm as traditional Chinese decor is juxtaposed against modern Chinese motifs and contemporary Chinese art. It is this very fusion that personifies Shanghai Tang's unique style throughout the world. In September 1999, Shanghai Tang opened two new shops in Hong Kong.

The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong

Renowned as one of the grandest hotels with breath taking views of the Victoria Harbor, the Peninsula Hotel has been graced by presidents, prime ministers, movie stars and musicians since it opened it's doors in 1928. Situated at the heart of the most popular tourist shopping district - Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, this reputable landmark has much charm and is a definite 'must-visit' to any visitor, Shanghai Tang complements The Peninsula's luxurious surroundings with a 900 square foot retail store, situated on the hotel's Mezzanine level. Today, patrons of and visitors to the hotel can still enjoy an element of style and glamour from Shanghai in the 1920's and 30's, by visiting the Shanghai Tang store. Here we have a range of ladies, men's and children's apparel; accessories; home furnishings; and novelty gift items, as well as our world famous Imperial Tailors department.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)

This famous state-of -the-art building, known as Chep Lap Kok HKIA, is one of the most expensive airports ever built. The whole engineering project cost US$19.9 billion. It is one of the largest and most ambitious infrastructures, and the HKIA'S passenger terminal is the largest enclosed public space, in the world. Opened on 6th July 1998, this airport is capable of serving up to 600 aircraft and some 113,000 passengers per day.

On 1st September 1999, Shanghai Tang celebrated the opening of a 350 square foot shop with a lively lion dance and ribbon-cutting ceremony, situated at The Atrium, prominently located at the Easthall of the HKIA. This position has proved to be a very popular and well-patronized store for all those last minute shoppers, allowing all our international visitors to fly with Shanghai Tang around the world, and to blend an element of Chinese exoticism into their modern lifestyle.

Shanghai Tang Madison Avenue, New York

Shanghai Tang New York, is located on one of the world's most prestigious and coveted shopping district in the world. Situated on 714 Madison Avenue, between 63rd & 64th Street, this new store is a landmark amidst all the excitement and glamour of mid-town Manhattan. Madison Avenue is renown for housing the best stores and designer boutiques in the world, and the streets are readily frequented by movie stars and international celebrities from all over the world.

Shanghai Tang New York introduces its distinctive styling, blending traditional Chinese culture with the modernity and dynamism of the 21st Century to the sophisticated American Customer. As 'Money Magazine' notes, "New York's Shanghai Tang will do for all things Chinese what Ralph Lauren's clothing and accessories did for Americana."

Shanghai Tang Ngee Ann City, Singapore

In September 2000, Shanghai Tang opened its doors in Singapore with its first store. Located in Ngee Ann City, the "everything under one roof" shopping mall, Shanghai Tang is in the center of the city's action and in the neighborhood of many of the world's premier brands.

History Of Shanghai

In the 1920's and 30's Shanghai was a legend. The "Paris of the East", "the New York of the West" or less charitably "the whore of the Orient".

The "glamour" was all around, in the dance halls, film studios, opium dens, art deco hotels, the extravagant houses, the bustling port unloading the cruisers bringing world famous stars such as Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward, Aldous Huxley, W H Auden and many more.

Shanghai was a melting pot, the first truly international city. "White Russians" who fled Russia during the Revolution entertained the American businessman who made and lost fortunes. The well to do British chased paper instead of foxes and attended balls at the Art Deco inspired Hotels. The French brought fine wines, champagne and Boulevards. Japanese Jazz bands filled Shanghai after the Japanese military government closed down the Dance Halls in Japan. The revolutionary Chinese fleeing from each other, the Nationalists and Communists both found refuge in Shanghai.