Shanghai

In 2015, three post-80s, who love statues and model toys, founded Infinity Studio (开天工作室) together in Shanghai. Today, Infinity Studio has not only become the head brand of sculpture in China, but also led the niche circle to develop into a hot modeling industry, truly bringing love into reality and doing the best. Pu Xiang Industrial Design Studio recently interviewed the founder of Infinity Studio, Yu Guanglai, and talked with him about the first half of his life dedicated to the statues.   01 The bond with model toys Yu Guanglai has been associated with model toys for more than thirty years. Ever since he understood, most of his life has been closely connected with model toys. The first model toy in Yu Guanglai's life was the Transformers that his mother bought for him. But at that time, he was young and playful, and the toys he wanted were both numerous and expensive. Yu Guanglai repeatedly dreamed of going to various kinds of toy stores, and sometimes he would wake up with toys in his arms. When he woke up, he found that it was just a dream, and he was very disappointed. Once, the school organized a summer hiking.…

The rise of the hanfu market restored traditional festivals back to former hustle and bustle. Lighting lanterns, pasting couplets, wearing hanfu, and singing ancient poems, built a bridge between ancient and modern times and seized the young people’s hearts. Hanfu brings feelings of nostalgia, ancestor worship, and gratitude to modern people. At the same time, hanfu production, sales, makeup, and supporting service markets have risen, and hanfu element immersive experience marketing is also in the stage of vigorous development.   Traditional culture in the costume The West Lake cruise ship with rabbit lanterns is swaying in the lake, and several tourists in hanfu complement with beautiful scenery, which is pretty much in line with the feeling of crossing Hangzhou, a thousand-year-old city. Many young people are immersive in it. "When I watched costume dramas as a child, I often put on a bed sheet to imitate a robe, and now wearing hanfu is more like a dream come true." Yan Peishan, who studied in Italy, said, "Earlier, I played erhu on stage in hanfu and won a lot of praise. It turns out that there are not only cheongsams in China, but also beautiful hanfu." Hanfu does not only refer…

When young consumers have fallen in love with hanfu, traditional culture and trendy fashion are on a collision course, setting off a time-traveling craze. As a carrier of traditional culture, hanfu has continued to spread explosively in recent years, gradually moving from a niche hobby to popular recognition, and creating a new consumer market of tens of billions of dollars. The beauty of hanfu: from a niche hobby to popular recognition Dong Yihan, who returned to Shanghai after studying in France, is an automotive engineer by day and a street performer by night. He is good at playing traditional musical instruments such as Di and Xiao, and even if the summer in Shanghai is hot, he insists on wearing a full set of hanfu when performing. The long robe is fluttering, and he wears it from the Seine to the Huangpu River. "Just as I want people to be able to enjoy a piece of ancient traditional music in its entirety, I also want to be able to present such a set of costumes in its entirety, which together form a 'Hanfu Style' as a whole." He said. Broadly speaking, hanfu is a system of traditional Chinese clothing and accessories…

The 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and Global Governance Summit, held in Shanghai from July 4th to 6th, gathered scientists and entrepreneurs from around the world. Together, they envisioned a future where AI advancements foster collaborative governance and innovation across industries. The rapid evolution of AI technologies showcased at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference highlights not only their technological prowess but also their profound implications for global governance and societal integration. As AI continues to advance, its transformative potential extends beyond industrial applications to encompass broader societal benefits and ethical considerations. Forging New Frontiers in AI The conference showcased remarkable advancements, exemplified by the debut of innovative technologies like the global landmark steel factory from CITIC Tai Fung Special Steel. Here, intricate displays revealed the transparency of blast furnace operations, illustrating efficiency gains such as a 56.6% increase in R&D effectiveness and a 47.3% decrease in defect rates. These advancements underscore how AI-powered insights are revolutionizing industries, enhancing precision and productivity on a global scale. "Two global landmark factories have already been established by CITIC," remarked Zhang Wenwu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of CITIC Group. These AI applications span across 29 manufacturing bases worldwide,…

The fusion of tradition and fashion is making waves in China, and the Mǎmiàn skirt, a quintessential piece of traditional Chinese attire, is at the forefront of this trend.  On May 17th, "China’s Most Beautiful Costumes Series – The Five Colors of Mǎmiàn Skirts" was released in Shanghai, published by Donghua University Press. This groundbreaking scholarly book delves into the origins, evolution, and aesthetic significance of the Mǎmiàn skirt through literature, images, and physical artifacts.Jia Xizeng, the author of the book, an alumnus of Donghua University and a professor at Tsinghua University’s Academy of Arts & Design, explained, “The Mǎmiàn skirt is a classic and highly representative style in traditional Chinese attire. Its history is long and distinguished, its appearance unique, its craftsmanship exquisite, and its functionality well-thought-out. It embodies the integration of beauty and utility in traditional Chinese dress, as well as the humanistic philosophy of expressing culture through clothing.” He clarified that the term “Mǎmiàn” does not refer to a horse’s face but to defensive structures like watchtowers and bastions that extend from city walls, forming T-shaped angles to eliminate blind spots and allow for multi-directional defense. The skirt’s pleated design resembles these structures, hence the name Mǎmiàn…

From Hanfu photographer to Hanfu KOL, let's hear what changes the Hanfu has brought to Fengfeng‘s life. At 7:28 a.m. on October 4, Fengfeng (风疯) posted a social media update with a picture of an airline ticket, departing from Chengdu with the destination of Changzhou, Jiangsu province. Just the day before, on the afternoon of October 3, he had just participated in a well-known runway show in the Hanfu-themed pavilion of the 2020 IGS-Chengdu (International) Digital Entertainment Expo in Chengdu. Fengfeng has lost count of the number of Hanfu activities it has participated in this year, follow just follow the schedule, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Ningxia, Chongqing, Jiaxing. On average, half of a month is spent running around the country, sometimes as a model for a Chinese dress show, sometimes as a judge for a Chinese dress event. "Feeling a little overwhelmed with my body." He laughs, but on the other hand, it shows that Hanfu is becoming more and more accepted and loved. "Nowadays, a lot of Hanfu societies are organizing large Hanfu events, and there are actually more and more models, businesses and fans of Hanfu, which I think is a good promotion for the development of Hanfu." The…

In the just-finished 2022 Spring/Summer Shanghai Fashion Week, I wonder if you found your favorite style in so many beautiful modern clothes? In the general environment and background of the increasing revival of traditional culture, many brands have chosen Chinoiserie fashion with national culture as the keynote. We know that only by truly integrating our traditional culture into modern life is there a true revival of culture. In Shanghai Fashion Week, these designer brands present Hanfu with national culture at its core, and they are committed to focusing on the new era concept of reviving traditional Han Chinese clothing and giving fashion a newborn aesthetic. Through creative fusion infused with Chinese aesthetic elements, the major brands tell the history and interpret the national culture in a way that young people can understand. However, these designs still use the western system of traditional Chinese clothing to make a western fashion transformation with collage of various elements. Although there is a very long way to go before the real return, this way can also show the wisdom of the ancient people in a multi-dimensional way with a fashion vocabulary easily understood by modern people, which is a good start anyway, and we…

Cheongsams or Modern Qipao are a kind of figure-flattering Chinese dress perfect for showcasing a lady’s features gracefully. It is no wonder they’re becoming ever more prevalent to wear, particularly for special occasions like your wedding. But the modern qipao can be worn anytime for any event. Although there are nearly too many choices when shopping for the Western wedding outfit, purchasing Chinese wedding clothing or Modern Qipao (cheongsam) can be a maddening experience if you don’t know what to look for in a Modern Qipao dress. How will you get the best Cheongsams or Modern Qipao if you don’t know them well? Fortunately, we have reviewed a complete list of 5 vital things to check before you buy a cheongsam or modern qipao dress in this article below. It will certainly help you to get the best qipao China dress from anywhere in the world!   What Is a Modern Qipao or Cheongsam Chinese Dress? As a type of Chinese dress, qipao is at all times a classic option for women. Cheongsams or qipao originated almost a century ago in Shanghai in China as a contemporary take on the Chinese Manchu dress, and then it remained among the most…