Proudly Made in China: Vintage ChinaDenim Collection Among Up-and-Coming Chinese Designers Taking Streetwear + Premium Denim to New Levels By Ryley Bane Photos by Tom Wallace While most people still think of China in terms of a product “made in China,” Elton Chung and his brother from Vintage China denim are among the new crop of up-and-coming young designers that are turning the tables by creating their own fashion labels to be picked up in specialty boutiques across American and Europe. Vintage China, as we discovered at the Project Fashion Trade Show in New York, a show known for showcasing premium denim brands, features such unique aspects to their denim, T-shirts, and jackets, that it took a lot of time to really get a sense of all of the details and 5,000 years of inspiration that went into the collection. As Elton explained, the concept of Vintage China is to take aspects of the growing pride and talent of young designers in China and create something that is their own and reflects their culture but with a thoroughly modern twist. Vintage China is based on the Chinese culture of 5,000 years of different dynasties. The collection reflects inspirational themes from various dynasties and details that come from a strong background in knowing what it takes to create high-end denim pieces. For example they often use red selvedged denim, hand-stitched details and buttons, special inside linings such as the red pocket, and reused leather pieces. They’ve also mastered developing their own fabrics as well as mixed washing techniques that take up to 14 days a pair to complete. Their T-shirt line is made of the softest fabrics and using various appliqués and graphics, have created dragon motifs, the Empire Golden Flower, Chinese letters with various meanings that have to do with their cultural history, and a new twist on the print-over-denim styles that even a brand like Artful Dodger would be impressed by. Vintage China isn’t a cheap collection—it’s premium to the point where people like Jay-Z are sporting the latest pieces and various other top celebs as seen recently on the MTV Movie Awards. As Chinese designers continue to increase in popularity, this marks a potentially huge shift in manufacturing, distribution, and new target audiences. As Label Networks pointed out in the recent MAGIC presentation on global streetwear trends (downloadable now for subscribers), there’s a growing Pride of China taking place. These young, highly skilled designers, not only have the manufacturing capabilities and techniques, but new stores and specialty boutiques are opening up to satisfy the growing consumer demand, such as various concept stores in Shanghai, including X Shop on Moganshan Rd., Younik on the Bund, Layefe a concept store in Xintuandi area, The Gloss which also carries Paul Frank, and German Freitag bags, and The Thing which is known for independent Chinese fashion labels. Vintage China is but a representation of things to come—not only in denim, but also streetwear fashion in general. And if they can find a market in the U.S. and Europe, you can expect that there’s a vast and growing marketplace in China for what’s next in American streetwear as well.