Shiatzy Chen


Shiatzy Chen is a Taiwanese luxury fashion house, founded in 1978 by Wang Chen Tsai-Hsia, who is often referred to as the Chanel of Taiwan. They describe their style as "neo-Chinese chic", where the aesthetics of Chinese clothing and handicraft are combined with Western styles, using design features drawn from Chinese culture such as mandarin collars and Chinese patterns. In 2010 Forbes magazine ranked Wang as one of the 25 most influential Chinese in global fashion.

Founding

Wang Chen Tsai-Hsia was born in 1951 in Changhua, Taiwan. She was not formally educated in the industry, learning her trade by working at her uncle's factory.
In 1978, she and her husband, Wang Yuan-hong, a businessman in the textile trade, founded the Shiatzy International Company Limited in 1978. For over 30 years Wang worked to establish her name in the local market and build up an extensive client list. The company is one of the few homegrown designer labels in Taiwan with an international clientele including the former President of Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwanese celebrities including Dee Shu, Patty Hou, Wang Leehom and Aska Yang; local politicians such as Jason Hu, businesswomen such as Pansy Ho and Shaw-Lan Wang; and British celebrities such as Elizabeth Hurley and Victoria Beckham. The Taiwan market is the company's major source of revenue. In Taiwan, Shiatzy Chen fashion shows, rather than showing upcoming collections, present the current season to their VIP clients, who purchase the clothes for their own use, rather than commercial buyers looking to buy upcoming styles.

Merchandise

While predominantly a womenswear company, in 1987 the company added a menswear line. While not bespoke menswear, the range includes off-the-peg changpaos intended for weddings and traditional engagement parties. A popular line is their quilted, often reversible, winter jackets, available in a wide range of styles, fabrics, patterns and color combinations. In about 2007 they expanded their catalogue with accessories and a line of furniture available from their three flagship stores in Taipei, Shanghai and Paris.
In June 2010, Shiatzy Chen and the tea culture brand Cha Cha Thé opened an exclusive sales area in the super upscale Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, along with a tea lounge in Taipei, where customers could come for tea, and purchase tea-wares and other gifts.

Company history

In 1990 Shiatzy Chen set up a studio in Paris to stay on top of fashion trends and to learn more about Western dressmaking techniques. This studio also serves as a training center for Taiwanese dressmakers and designers. They opened a flagship store in Paris in 2001.
The label has been listed on the London-based Financial Times pick of what is hot in 2004. It was also deemed the most popular fashion brand in Taiwan by The Wall Street Journal Asia.
In 2003 the company entered the Chinese market, opening a third flagship store in Shanghai, on The Bund in October 2005; with further stores in Hong Kong and Beijing. Restoration on the building began in late 2001. The interior was designed by Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim. The company aimed to have 50 stores in mainland China by 2010 in addition to their 48 outlets in Taiwan, 23 directly managed stores and 25 department store counters.
In 2007 they opened a second factory, measuring 6000 square meters, in Shanghai alongside the existing one in Taipei. This new factory was designed by German architect Johannes Hartfuss to accommodate a workforce of more than 1,000 employees, including dressmakers and embroiderers, producing tens of thousands of clothing items annually based on over 400 styles created by its designers.
On 5 October 2008 Shiatzy Chen debuted at Paris Fashion Week, making Wang just the second Taiwanese design house to have officially shown there. They presented their show at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts on the Left Bank in central Paris, and have shown there in subsequent years, including an Anna Wintour inspired collection for Fall-Winter 2010-11. On 9 November 2009, the company became a member of the Chambre syndicale du prêt-à-porter des couturiers et des créateurs de mode.
In 2010, they held a record-breaking exhibition of 100 flower-themed dresses at the Taipei International Flora Exposition, presented on the longest catwalk seen in the Taiwan fashion business.
In 2011 the company reported sales of about US$60 million.
In 2017, the company opened a boutique on avenue Montaigne in Paris, being the first Asian brand on that street.

Exhibitions