The arrival of McDonalds in Beijing eight years ago and more recently Starbucks, Gucci and Prada have signaled a dramatic change in the psyche of the Chinese. Rising incomes, a newly emerging avant-garde art, independent music and fashion scene have created a demand for international brands. Now on Silver Street, only steps away from the historical district (where there is a Starbucks), you can find many of the Western boutiques that you’d find in New York and London. Retail sales in Beijing increased 10.4% during the first six months of this year. China may be one of the only places left where people are still shopping!!

Evidence that the demand for luxury goods in China is on the rise was further confirmed at the International Fur Show last Friday in Beijing. More than 2000 of China’s most affluent and trendy attended to see eleven Western designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian La Croix and Givenchy and Vera Wang show fur-only collections.

Saga furs of Scandinavia, who supply the world’s top fashion houses with Scandinavian mink and fox, sponsored the show along with the Chinese Fashion Designers Association and the International Fur Trade Federation.
Chinese American designers Vera Wang, Peter Som and Han Feng showed their patriotism by creating original designs for their homeland. Wang presented a floor length sheered mink with a jeweled belt - one that is likely to inspire many winter weddings. The highlights of Som and Feng’s collection were gray fox coats with bold accents. Feng lined a gray wool coat with sky blue and Som added his signature touch of red to the lining of a gray-black fox.

Before the runway show, SAGA Furs also inaugurated the Saga Workshop and Design Centre in Beijing, which will collaborate with Chinese fashion designers on new ways to work with SAGA Mink® and SAGA Fox® in China.

China has always inspired Western fashion designers and it will be interesting to watch how Chinese designers will choose to interpret fur. The Made In China label is about to make a reappearance on furs and no doubt, could well become the new symbol of urban luxury.