Latest news with #Xiong
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Chic meets heritage — luxuries tap into China's traditional crafts to capture evolving market
Xiong Songtao and his daughter exchange ideas on the design of cloisonné handicrafts in Beijing, capital of China in December 2024. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (June 17): Not a single air bubble was acceptable. Xiong Songtao's glistening enamel crafts, which employ the Chinese cloisonné technique, a form of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), have attained the precision required for high-end watch dials. Xiong, a third-generation master of Xiong's Enamel, took great pride in this innovation, which has brought acclaim to the family brand both domestically and internationally. The brand secured a global partnership with the Spanish fashion house LOEWE, which celebrated the Chinese Year of the Snake with a collection that pays homage to Chinese cloisonné. The collaboration with Xiong saw LOEWE introduce two sets of cloisonné works: a Nest bag with snake head and lotus cloisonné details as well as necklaces with cloisonné pendants featuring the auspicious snake, monkey and cloud motifs. This project exemplifies a growing trend in which international luxury brands increasingly draw on China's craft heritage, particularly ICH crafts, to navigate the evolving Chinese market. As China marks the 2025 Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on Saturday, the trend also highlights ICH's surge in prominence. Such partnerships create a synergy that, on one hand, helps international brands gain cultural depth and local market insights, while on the other hand, provides ICH brands with enhanced visibility and growth opportunities. TAPPING INTO ICH The collaboration with Xiong was not LOEWE's first tribute to art collections inspired by Chinese cultural heritage. In 2022, the brand presented its holiday collection, which included the Chinese Monochrome collection of bags, inspired by Chinese monochrome ceramics from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Other fashion houses are also on the move. The Italian brand Fendi collaborated with artisans from China's Yi ethnic group to create a Baguette bag featuring traditional Yi embroidery and silverwork. French luxury brand Dior incorporated 'Ronghua,' a velvet flower-making craft that has been practiced since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), into its men's couture knitwear. Additionally, Italian luxury brand Valextra teamed up with Qian Lihuai, an ICH bamboo weaving artist from China, to launch the Valextra Bamboo Iside limited edition last year. 'China is a vast market,' said Wei Xiang, a professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He added that it is only natural for international businesses engaged in culture and commerce to accommodate the consumer demand in this market. Consulting firm Bain & Company published an analysis report on the 2024 China luxury goods market on its official website. It said that the Chinese market is expected to recover at a moderate pace in the longer term, driven by the solid fundamentals of China's economy and the growth of its middle class, affirming that 'Despite current difficulties, the Chinese mainland remains an attractive market for luxury brands.' The Chinese mainland boasts over 60 Louis Vuitton stores as listed on the luxury house's official website. The arrival of new fashion house locations signifies a vote of confidence in the market. LOEWE unveiled its flagship store in Shanghai in February, while Balenciaga just held an opening ceremony for its flagship store in Beijing's Sanlitun shopping complex in May. Yet a shift is underway among young Chinese consumers — especially Gen Zers, the coveted demographic for luxury brands. Increasingly discerning about consumerism, they're prioritizing experiences like travel over material goods. Moreover, they are increasingly embracing homegrown brands, designs, and cultural symbols, a trend now referred to as 'Guochao,' or 'China-chic.' The crafts listed as the country's ICH represent the most time-honored, best preserved and outstanding artistry and craftsmanship in China. There are over 1,500 ICH projects at the national level across the country. ICH-related products have become increasingly sought-after. According to data from China's leading e-commerce platforms, Taobao and Tmall, in 2023, the annual transaction volume of ICH-related products surpassed the 100-billion-yuan mark, reaching 107.32 billion yuan (about 14.95 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 37.7 percent. MUTUAL OPPORTUNITIES Xiong proudly stated that the necklace pendants they crafted for LOEWE rival the rigorous standards required for watch dials. Silver bent wires with a diameter of just 0.04 millimeters — about half the thickness of a human hair — were applied to silver bases filled with enamel paste. Each piece was handmade, taking approximately 20 days to complete. Chinese cloisonné, which was widely produced during the Ming and Qing dynasties, was more broadly used in jewelry and metalware in the ancient royal court. China listed this time-honored craft as a national intangible heritage in 2006. 'The ICH brands, steeped in history and rich in cultural heritage, are more adept at creating culturally unique products. However, their global influence remains limited,' said Wei, noting that international fashion brands and China's ICH share a complementary relationship that naturally encourages collaboration. 'In contrast, some international fashion houses have over a century of experience in successfully translating cultural value into commercial success. This synergy creates mutual opportunities,' Wei explained. Xiong came to admire those brands' legacy during his collaborations with elite fashion houses. 'What truly defines these brands,' he reflected, 'is an ingrained sense of honor — forged through generations — a commitment to craftsmanship they hold dear.' The partnership also enables Xiong's Enamel to redefine its brand by expanding beyond traditional art pieces into wearable jewelry, creating a more everyday context that is likely to attract young consumers. Notably, the motifs featured in the LOEWE pendants were designed by Xiong's Gen-Z daughter, a jewelry design graduate, to whom Xiong plans to eventually pass the baton. 'Our craft and technique are superb, and our brand becomes more prominent, and above all, China is getting stronger, with more people coming to love Chinese culture,' Xiong said in a summary of his insights into the new trend of collaboration. – Xinhua China handicraft luxury traditional crafts
CNA
6 days ago
- CNA
1 dead, 4 injured in Chongqing after driver runs into crowd: district police
CHONGQING: One person is dead and four others injured after a driver allegedly drove into a crowd in Chongqing, a city in southwestern China, on Saturday after onlookers reportedly criticised him for repeatedly sounding the horn on his car. A police statement issued on Sunday by the Banan district branch of the Chongqing Public Security Bureau alleged the driver, surnamed Xiong, repeatedly sounded the horn after finding his path blocked by another vehicle in Banan, a district in southern Chongqing. The driver of the other vehicle was unloading goods in front of a residential community, it said. The police statement said Xiong was a 38-year-old male but provided no further personal details about the suspect. It said his behaviour 'triggered strong dissatisfaction' among nearby residents and prompted many people to approach and confront him. As the incident escalated into a dispute between Xiong and the residents, Xiong tried to force his way out by driving away, injuring people who tried to stop him from leaving, according to the statement. Banan district police said one person had died after rescue efforts and a further four were being treated for injuries that were not life threatening. Xiong was being detained by police. The Chongqing incident came months after dozens died in a lone-wolf attack that prompted authorities across the country to guard against similar cases that could potentially lead to social instability and public criticism. On November 11, 62-year-old Fan Weiqiu deliberately drove his SUV into a group of people exercising outside a sports centre on November 11, killing 35 people and injuring 43. The Zhuhai Intermediate People's Court sentenced Fan to death in December. It said he was 'endangering public safety by dangerous means' and had been motivated by a 'broken marriage and dissatisfaction with life'. In response to such incidents, China's authorities seek to strengthen security, urging officials to maintain social stability and calling for grass roots conflict resolution measures to protect citizens.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- South China Morning Post
1 dead, 4 injured in Chongqing after driver runs into crowd: district police
One person is dead and four others injured after a driver allegedly drove into a crowd in Chongqing, a city in southwestern China, on Saturday after onlookers reportedly criticised him for repeatedly sounding the horn on his car. A police statement issued on Sunday by the Banan district branch of the Chongqing Public Security Bureau alleged the driver, surnamed Xiong, repeatedly sounded the horn after finding his path blocked by another vehicle in Banan, a district in southern Chongqing. The driver of the other vehicle was unloading goods in front of a residential community, it said. The police statement said Xiong was a 38-year-old male but provided no further personal details about the suspect. It said his behaviour 'triggered strong dissatisfaction' among nearby residents and prompted many people to approach and confront him. 01:09 Sinkhole in China swallows cars, injuring 3 people Sinkhole in China swallows cars, injuring 3 people As the incident escalated into a dispute between Xiong and the residents, Xiong tried to force his way out by driving away, injuring people who tried to stop him from leaving, according to the statement.
New Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
China's 2025 LNG imports expected to fall in unusual downturn, analysts say
BEIJING/SINGAPORE: China's annual imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are forecast to decline for the first time in three years on weak industrial demand and strong domestic and piped gas supply, according to revised forecasts from five research firms. A decline in imports at the world's top LNG buyer would drive up global supply and drag Asian spot prices, which are down 12 per cent so far this year. Imports are set to fall between 6 per cent and 11 per cent from the 76.65 million metric tons shipped last year. Previous estimates had noted that imports were to hit an all-time high as economic stimulus measures from Beijing were expected to lift industrial demand. However, US tariffs have had a significant impact on China's exports, said Rystad's analyst Xiong Wei "China's consumer price index has also posted year-on-year declines for several consecutive months, reflecting weak consumer confidence," said Xiong. Weak industrial demand and a mild winter have hit natural gas consumption overall, according to analysts at Rystad, Kpler and ICIS. Consumers are increasingly opting for the cheaper domestically produced gas or pipeline imports, they added. The import fall would also be an unusual blip in a sector that has otherwise recorded steady growth. China's LNG imports last contracted in 2022 as demand tumbled during the pandemic lockdowns, according to customs data. China imports fell to 20 million metric tons during the first four months of this year, down from nearly 29 million tons in the corresponding period last year, customs data showed. "Even with a sudden and sharp rebound in the second half, it wouldn't be enough to offset the weakness seen so far," said Yuanda Wang, a senior analyst at ICIS. Rystad Energy estimates that gas consumption for the industrial and chemical sectors combined will fall by roughly 1 per cent. Demand from the industrial and chemical sectors usually grows by 10 to 15 bcm each year, according to analysts from Kpler. DEMAND WANES Weaker demand in China is already showing up in import statistics as Chinese buyers cut back on purchases from major producers like Australia. Imports from Australia, Malaysia and Russia were all down more than 20 per cent year-on-year during the January–to-April period, according to Chinese customs data. Australia, China's top LNG supplier in 2024, shipped 6.38 million tons to China in the first four months of 2025, down 24 per cent from a year earlier, according to China customs data. Kpler data showed the decline came mainly from long-term contract volumes, while spot purchases held steady.
Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
China rolls out major reforms ahead of gaokao, its national college entrance exam
High school students prepare for the National College Entrance Examination, known as gaokao, in Fuyang, Anhui, on May 27. PHOTO: AFP China's national college entrance exam, known as gaokao, will take place from June 7 to 10 and feature several new developments, including the roll-out of exam reforms in eight additional provinces, expanded university enrolment and the launch of new academic majors. In 2025, eight more provincial-level regions will implement the gaokao reforms: Sichuan, Henan, Shanxi, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Qinghai and the Ningxia Hui and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions. So far, 29 provinces have adopted the reforms. Under the reforms, candidates must take three nationally standardised subjects – Chinese, mathematics and a foreign language – along with one primary elective subject, either physics or history, and two additional electives selected from chemistry, geography, political science and biology. Professor Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said the reforms, launched in 2014, have provided students with greater flexibility in subject selection and aim to place more emphasis on students' individuality and personal interests while establishing a more comprehensive and multi-dimensional evaluation system. 'However, the issue of solely relying on test scores persists. It is necessary to strengthen the reform of comprehensive quality evaluation,' Prof Xiong said. Many universities have expanded enrolment plans in 2025, including Tsinghua University, Peking University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The additional spots, ranging from dozens to several hundred, are primarily concentrated in fundamental disciplines such as mathematics, physics and chemistry, as well as in strategic and cutting-edge fields. Xi'an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi province has been expanding its enrolment over the past decade and plans to add 200 more spots in 2025, according to Professor Cao Liangzhi, director of the university's admissions office. 'The focus is primarily on emerging technology industries and fields geared towards the future,' Prof Cao said. 'In response to technological and industrial transformation and upgrading, we aim to cultivate more high-quality talent.' In 2025, China's college admissions introduced 29 new undergraduate majors across fields such as artificial intelligence, carbon neutrality and digital governance. According to the Ministry of Education, these new programmes are designed to align with national strategic priorities, market demands and technological advancements. Beijing Jiaotong University has added five undergraduate majors in fields of national strategic demand, including data science and big data technology, robotics engineering, intelligent manufacturing engineering, intelligent vehicle engineering, and international journalism and communication. The Beijing Institute of Technology has introduced a low-altitude technology and engineering major, focusing on cultivating top-tier talent to meet the strategic needs of low-altitude economic development. Universities are adjusting their programmes to align with social development and meet societal needs, according to Prof Xiong. Around 13.35 million students have registered for 2025's gaokao, a decrease of 70,000 compared with 2024 and marking the first decline in a decade, according to data released by the ministry. The decline in exam candidates is primarily due to a decrease in vocational college entrance exam participants, who are no longer required to take the gaokao, Prof Xiong explained. However, the number of candidates for the regular gaokao has increased, he said. 'It is hoped that universities will expand enrolment based on their unique conditions and strengths, focusing not only on increasing numbers but also on improving quality,' Prof Xiong said. CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
