London-based Huishan Zhang, one of China’s hottest up-and-coming designers, is traveling through Hong Kong and Mainland China to meet with customers and investigate new manufacturing resources.
Zhang said he’s out to build a “contemporary, modern Chinese lifestyle brand” and added that he’s working toward establishing his own direct retail channel, either online or through a brick-and-mortar store, but it’s too soon to say how quickly that could happen. The Central Saint Martins’ grad, who was understood to be a contender for the role of artistic director at Lanvin, said partnerships with retailers might be one option.
“[The] ambition’s big, it’s really step by step,” he said at a lunch hosted by Joyce, which bought his collection from the very beginning. “Working with all the prestige retailers, we learn from them as well.”