Alibaba Partners with RedNote, Aesop to Close First Store in Shanghai and China’s Auto Sees Monthly Growth

Kering Partners with SIFF to Launch Women In Motion in China

Kering has become the Official Co-Creation Partner of the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, marking the program’s debut in China. The collaboration will introduce Women In Motion Talks and a special screening series, aiming to support women’s roles in the film industry. This initiative aligns with the 10th anniversary of Women In Motion and coincides with milestones in global and Chinese cinema history.

Hoka One One Opens First Global Brand Experience Center in Shanghai

Hoka One One has opened its first-ever global brand experience center in Shanghai’s Xintiandi district, spanning over 1,600 square meters across three floors. The store integrates immersive mountain-themed displays, a full product lineup, and China-exclusive releases. It features the “Fly Lab,” offering multi-level performance testing with six advanced systems. The center also includes a community hub for runners and regular events, aiming to deepen local engagement and expand Hoka’s presence in the Chinese market.

Alibaba Partners with RedNote to Boost App-to-App Shopping Integration

Alibaba has partnered with lifestyle content platform RedNote to enable direct shopping links to Taobao, formalizing a new app-to-app shopping connection. The collaboration aims to enhance brand reach by integrating RedNote’s content with Alibaba’s e-commerce infrastructure. This move supports Alibaba’s broader push into instant retail, focusing on fast-moving consumer goods and healthcare. China’s e-commerce firms, including Alibaba and JD.com, are intensifying competition in this space through heavy investment and rapid delivery services.

Aesop to Close First Mainland China Store in Shanghai

Aesop, the cosmetics brand under L’Oréal Group, announced that its first mainland China store on Dongping Road in Shanghai will close on May 10, citing lease expiration. Since entering the Chinese market in late 2022, Aesop has opened four stores in Shanghai. The reason behind the non-renewal was not disclosed. The closure comes amid a broader slowdown in the premium beauty sector.

Gucci Beauty Launches JD.com Self-operated Store Ahead of 520 Festival

Gucci Beauty officially opened its self-operated flagship store on JD.com. To mark the upcoming 520 Valentine’s Day in China, the brand released a holiday gift set campaign featuring brand ambassador Zhang Linghe. The set includes Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia perfume and Rouge de Beauté Brillant.

Piaget Names Chen Zheyuan as Brand Ambassador for Mainland China

Piaget has officially appointed Chinese actor Chen Zheyuan as its new Brand Ambassador for Mainland China. As previously one of the brand friends, Chen has been featured in the Possession collection. The appointment marks an expanded partnership as he continues to represent the line’s contemporary image.

Tory Burch Restructures Global Leadership with Three Senior Appointments

Tory Burch has named Thibault Villet as president of international markets across Asia Pacific, Japan, Europe, and the Middle East. Paolo Zullo becomes president of the European and Middle Eastern regions, while Joshua Chen is appointed president of the Chinese market. All three will report to Villet, who continues to report to CEO Pierre-Yves Roussel. The changes aim to strengthen the brand’s regional management structure and global presence.

China’s Auto Trade Sees 32.1 Percent Monthly Growth in March

In March 2025, China’s total auto trade reached $23.82 billion, up 32.1 percent from the previous month and down 0.2 percent year-on-year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Exports rose 38.9 percent month-on-month and 8.4 percent year-on-year to $20.15 billion, while imports totaled $3.67 billion, down 30.4 percent year-on-year. From January to March, total auto trade amounted to $65.14 billion, a 4.6 percent year-on-year decline.