Fei Liu showcases British talent in Beijing
British jewellery designer Fei Liu invited eight selected British jewellery designers to showcase at his gallery in Shin Kong Place department store in Beijing from November 7 to 13, with some designers being kept on until the end of November.
The initiative aimed to promote young British design talent in China and was launched in collaboration with British Jewellery & Giftware International (BJGI), the British Jewellers’ Association and UK Trade & Investment.
Liu and the BJGI chose William Cheshire; Leyla Abdollahi; Mahtab Hanna, Tomasz Donocik; Dorit Jewellery; Sarah Ho (Sho); Chris Perry and Roland Green as the designers to feature in the gallery.
As well as demonstrating the brilliance of UK jewellery design to consumers and trade buyers, Liu wanted to showcase the UK’s long heritage of jewellery manufacturing. The Birmingham Assay Office also supported the event by lending silverware piece, the Warwick Vase, from its collection.
Liu commented: “British design is so unique, it has a wonderful sense of adventure, creativity and imagination, it has long been regarded as forward thinking. By creating the link between the two nations I believe China can benefit from the ever evolving British style and open up the market to a host of new talent and skill, while the British will gain the opportunity to develop a new consumer base.
“This is the role in which I hope my gallery and the trade link, in time, will play.”
Those British designers who were selected were also pleased with the opportunity. Sarah Ho, creative director of Sho, said: “Entering any new market is often a challenge and the BJGF coordination has given us the opportunity to open the door.
“With my Asian roots in Hong Kong and Macau, Beijing, as another Asian market, is definitely on our list to explore and we hope that the exposure we receive from the press coverage and exhibitions will give us valuable research for our future planning to establish the brand there.”
Another designer being showcased, William Cheshire said: “I was selected as one of the emerging brands [Fei] felt ready to deal with the Chinese market. By this he wanted more bold and creative designers doing something different from what his clients can already get.”
He added: “I saw this more as a marketing venture and an opportunity to work with Fei and benefit from the event and showing in Fei’s wonderful Beijing store.”
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