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At Capital M

Here are Allen Xie and his colleague Kieran Wang on the patio of Capital M.

Allen Xie is the founder of a Allen and Co., a super stylish bespoke business that offers suits only in Allen’s signature style, which is somewhat like Tom Ford – with wide lapels and super slim waists, but cut in such a way that flatters the Chinese physique. Allen also works with local producers to create unique fabrics like the blue one he is wearing.

The brand started in Shanghai and now Allen is opening his first workshop in Beijing, which will be headed up by Kieran.

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Hip Hutongs

I wanted to direct your attention to a walking tour that I offer in cooperation with Context Travel. Hip Hutongs is a way for visitors to Beijing to gain an understanding of the creative, fashion and media environments in China while on a stroll with me through Beijing’s most picturesque neighborhoods. Find out more here.

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A Lengthy Interview

This interview by Brent Luvaas, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Drexel University in Philadelphia, gives an overview of how Stylites evolved, in my words. Brent and I had a nice discussion over Skype and here he provides the main points. Brent is also the Co-Editor in the Visual Anthropology Review Department of Culture and Communication. He also runs the blog where my interview appears, Urban Field Notes. My thanks to Brent for featuring me on his blog!

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New Zealand Fashion Week I

Even though my content here tends to focus exclusively on China happenings, I have think this time, the exotic nature of this locale warrant some coverage. After all, an attraction of Beiijng has always been that, unlike New York or Tokyo, one doesn’t at once expect it to have vibrant street style and it has, in fact, recently awakend from a sort of fashion night. In some ways, Auckland is equally surprising just because one rarely thinks of it outside of the context of Lord of the Rings and such.

The fellow above is a design student who came for a few shows at New Zealand Fashion Week.

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Cosplayers Take Jinan


Photo : Eric Gregory Powell

The Shandong Provincial Government supports fun and fantasy. The 4th Shandong Cultural & Creative Industry Fair last week in Jinan brought hundreds of local cosplayers together, all extravagantly costumed. My friend, photographer Eric Gregory Powell was on hand to document the most gripping results.

Their Cosplay names are all listed, though I don’t have time to do the research on the identities of all of these characters. If anyone knows, please add it to the comments.

Above is Xiao Ji (小叽).