In the wake of London Fashion Week, China’s JD.com has again announced sponsorship of three London-based Chinese designers to link UK high-end fashion with a hungry Chinese consumer base.
Huishan Zhang, Xuzhi Chen and Xiao Li will be launching sales of selected designs from their highly anticipated collections on JD’s JDesigner Boutique platform. Launched in June this year, JDesigner Boutique provides the latest designers’ creations directly to China’s fashion savvy consumers.
“With JDesigner Boutique, JD has once again brought fashion and technology together. It allows our brand a level of direct access to fans in China that would never have been possible in the past”
– Xuzhi Chen, designer
Xuzhi Chen is quickly building a strong international profile through his own brand XU ZHI. Chen combines a thoroughly cosmopolitan aesthetic taking inspiration from his Chinese roots, putting a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and creativity. His show in London this year draws influence from the work of 19th Century US poet Emily Dickinson.
Award-winning designer Huishan Zhang has chosen to partner with JD for the second year running.
“JD is a retail partner that understands the fashion industry, caring about the needs of both the designers and customers. This a rare thing, which is why my team and I have chosen to partner with JD.com again. It’s great to see more and more Chinese people caring about fashion – and initiatives like JD’s JDesigner Boutique show that fashion has a much broader appeal than just people who attend exclusive events.”
– Huishan Zhang, designer
Items from JD-sponsored designer Xiao Li’s collection will also be available to users of the JDesigner Boutique platform for the first time. A rising star on the global fashion stage, Xiao Li is best known for her witty commentary on the fashion scene, using colorful, voluminous shapes, and innovative yarns and textures to push the boundaries of knitwear.
“All of us at JD.com are extremely excited for another year of celebrating the international fashion community in London. As China is increasingly recognized as a new global fashion power player, our unique initiatives, such as the JDesigner Boutique, combined with our unrivaled logistics network in China, continue to make JD.com the top choice for international luxury brands seeking to enter this exciting market.”
– Xia Ding, President of JD International Fashion
This year marks the second year of partnership between JD and the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. JD will work closely with the BFC to help British designers expand their presence in China and will introduce selected designs through JDesigner Boutique while exploring joint programs including collaborations between shortlisted BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund designers and brands on JD, as well as mentorship programs.
“We are delighted that JD.com are extending their support of the British Fashion Council Vogue Designer Fashion fund into 2019. This collaboration takes us into the second year of our valued partnership with JD.com which allows our British designer businesses to engage with over 300 million Chinese consumers, enabling them the vital opportunity of increasing their global footprint in China.”
– Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive British Fashion Council
Over the course of 2018, JD has added or deepened partnerships with brands including Chopard, Salvatore Ferragamo, Buccellati, Balenciaga, Missoni, Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent and others, as the company’s dedicated TOPLIFE platform continues to gain the attention of the major names in global fashion.
