Chalu is reimagining sparkling tea through the lens of Yunnan’s ancient tea terroir. Founded by Fraser Kennedy, the brand transforms Chinese tea heritage into a modern, alcohol-free ritual rooted in flavor, craft, and place.
Highlighted Articles
At Beauty Shanghai 2025, five emerging C-beauty brands revealed how China’s beauty industry is evolving beyond trends—toward a new aesthetic standard rooted in culture, design, and slow luxury.
In an age of crowded cafés and restless digital chatter, Yinxi Tea House has quietly redefined what a “third place” means in China. Founded by Yan Yujie, the brand offers not coffee or conversation, but privacy, stillness, and time itself—a sanctuary where business and ritual, elegance and ease, flow together in silence.
Through its Chinese Raw Materials Return Project, Chinese fragrance brand To Summer is working to integrate ingredients such as Jingmai Pu’er tea and Xinhui aged tangerine peel into the global perfumery system via standardized extraction and IFRA recognition. The brand offers a case study in how Chinese fragrance may achieve long-term relevance through materials, infrastructure, and system participation.
WEEKLY BRIEF
1
Mannings will close all mainland China offline stores by Jan 15, 2026, while shutting multiple online channels in late December 2025.
2
Dior opened the House of Dior Beijing in Sanlitun, positioning it as an art-and-lifestyle landmark with the Monsieur Dior restaurant.
3
Zara reopened its East Nanjing Road flagship in Shanghai at ~2,400 sqm, adding new product lines and personalization services.
4
Boucheron unveiled its first China flagship store in Shanghai Xintiandi, designed inside a historic Shikumen building.
5
Li-Ning launched its first global “Loong Store” in Beijing’s Sanlitun Taikoo Li alongside the new “Glory Gold Label” line.
6
Lane Crawford confirmed it will close its Chengdu IFS store from Feb 28, 2026 due to lease non-renewal.
7
Etam shut down its Tmall, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu stores on Nov 30, signaling a likely full China exit.
8
A report claims Lao Pu Gold will surpass Richemont’s jewelry business in China by revenue in 2025.
9
Pop Mart appointed LVMH Greater China President Wu Yue as a non-executive director effective Dec 10, 2025.
10
Hang Lung secured a 20-year operational lease for the former Westgate Mall site, expanding its West Nanjing Road footprint by ~44%.
Neo-Luxury Economy
This week’s Weekly Brief reviews the most significant developments shaping the China consumer market, from accelerated retail exits and major flagship investments to the global expansion of Chinese brands and deepening capital ties with international groups. Together, these moves reveal how China’s retail, luxury, fashion, and lifestyle sectors are recalibrating
Duanmu, a Chinese luxury brand rooted in craftsmanship and cultural vision, redefines luxury with sacrifice, slow growth, design innovation, and cultural depth.
Brands should reexamine aging as a process through a cultural lens.
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Beauty
At Beauty Shanghai 2025, five emerging C-beauty brands revealed how China’s beauty industry is evolving beyond trends—toward a new aesthetic standard rooted in culture, design, and slow luxury.
Fragrance takes the spotlight and ASEAN emerges as the next beauty growth frontier at Cosmoprof Asia 2025, highlighting Asia’s expanding role in redefining global beauty.
Liquides Imaginaires marks its third entry into China with a renewed vision of perfume as poetry and strategy. Founder Philippe Di Méo shares how the brand connects French artistry with China’s evolving niche fragrance scene and its spiritual economy.
As Korean beauty reshapes European skincare, what lessons can China’s beauty brands learn? From cultural storytelling to experiential retail, here’s how C-beauty can chart its global path.
Jingzhi Brand
Through its Chinese Raw Materials Return Project, Chinese fragrance brand To Summer is working to integrate ingredients such as Jingmai Pu’er tea and Xinhui aged tangerine peel into the global perfumery system via standardized extraction and IFRA recognition. The brand offers a case study in how Chinese fragrance may achieve long-term relevance through materials, infrastructure, and system participation.
Chalu is reimagining sparkling tea through the lens of Yunnan’s ancient tea terroir. Founded by Fraser Kennedy, the brand transforms Chinese tea heritage into a modern, alcohol-free ritual rooted in flavor, craft, and place.
Once crafted for emperors, Ru porcelain is being reimagined by Li Keming, founder of Rushanming, as a vessel of light, harmony, and modern refinement. Guided by the Song-dynasty philosophy of tian ren he yi—the unity of nature and spirit—Li transforms this thousand-year-old Chinese art into a bridge between tradition and contemporary design.
Liquides Imaginaires marks its third entry into China with a renewed vision of perfume as poetry and strategy. Founder Philippe Di Méo shares how the brand connects French artistry with China’s evolving niche fragrance scene and its spiritual economy.
The Visionary
Once crafted for emperors, Ru porcelain is being reimagined by Li Keming, founder of Rushanming, as a vessel of light, harmony, and modern refinement. Guided by the Song-dynasty philosophy of tian ren he yi—the unity of nature and spirit—Li transforms this thousand-year-old Chinese art into a bridge between tradition and contemporary design.
As Korean beauty reshapes European skincare, what lessons can China’s beauty brands learn? From cultural storytelling to experiential retail, here’s how C-beauty can chart its global path.
Duanmu, a Chinese luxury brand rooted in craftsmanship and cultural vision, redefines luxury with sacrifice, slow growth, design innovation, and cultural depth.
In an exclusive conversation with Jingzhi Chronicle, Dewar’s Master Blender Stephanie Macleod discusses how she bridges heritage and innovation, from double aging techniques to China’s evolving whisky culture. Her story is one of quiet leadership, creative integrity, and a deep respect for the craft.
Through its Chinese Raw Materials Return Project, Chinese fragrance brand To Summer is working to integrate ingredients such as Jingmai Pu’er tea and Xinhui aged tangerine peel into the global perfumery system via standardized extraction and IFRA recognition. The brand offers a case study in how Chinese fragrance may achieve long-term relevance through materials, infrastructure, and system participation....
This week’s Weekly Brief reviews the most significant developments shaping the China consumer market, from accelerated retail exits and major flagship investments to the global expansion of Chinese brands and deepening capital ties with international groups. Together, these moves reveal how China’s retail, luxury, fashion, and lifestyle sectors are recalibrating amid structural change, consolidation, and evolving consumer demand....
Chalu is reimagining sparkling tea through the lens of Yunnan’s ancient tea terroir. Founded by Fraser Kennedy, the brand transforms Chinese tea heritage into a modern, alcohol-free ritual rooted in flavor, craft, and place. ...
At Beauty Shanghai 2025, five emerging C-beauty brands revealed how China’s beauty industry is evolving beyond trends—toward a new aesthetic standard rooted in culture, design, and slow luxury. ...
The surge of increasingly niche products often signals a market set to soar....
Brands should reexamine aging as a process through a cultural lens....
The fiscal 2024 not only underscored the growing maturity and competitiveness of China’s homegrown players, but also revealed deepening fault lines within the sector....
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