Shang Xia Store Shanghai – A Brand with Culture

Shang Xia Store Shanghai

Greetings From Kyoto

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

I got to visit Shang Xia (上下) for several days and learn more about their completely unique brand. Backed by Hermes, Shang Xia is the first Asian luxury goods brand. Shang Xia is based in Shanghai and currently has one retail store there. (Beijing and Paris stores are scheduled to open later in 2012.) I thought that China, as the ‘world’s factory’, just made low-end, mass-produced, commodity products. A single Shang Xia product can take several months for an artisan to create and have price points that rival any luxury brand. My favorite thing about Shang Xia is that their products have deep and authentic culture. The big name European fashion houses can’t really say the same.

The Shang Xia Shanghai store has a very soft and dreamy interior with the space ‘sculpted’ out of textured paper. Shang Xia collaborated with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma on the design.

Shang Xia has product categories that include apparel, furniture, jewelry and tea and culinary. The products are meticulously designed and handcrafted by the most capable traditional artisans in Asia. I can’t wait to see what Shang Xia can do with Kyoto!

Shang Xia Store Shanghai
Shang Xia Store Interior
Shang Xia Store Shanghai
Shang Xia Store Exterior
Shang Xia Store Shanghai
Shang Xia Store Window (inside mall)
Shang Xia Store Shanghai
Shang Xia Store Entrance (inside mall)
Shang Xia Store Shanghai
Shang Xia Store Interior – Jewelry
Shang Xia Store Shanghai
Shang Xia Interior – Jewelry and Apparel Products
Shang Xia Store Shanghai
Shang Xia Interior – Tea Table
Shang Xia Store Shanghai
Shang Xia Interior – Tea and Culinary Products