The LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store, themed "Spiritual Homeland," is showcased in Harrods' main street exhibition windows. Drawing inspiration from the creative journeys of young Chinese artists in Jingdezhen, East China's Jiangxi province — renowned as China's porcelain capital — the theme captures their stories through the lens of acclaimed photographer Leslie Zhang. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Ahead of the Year of the Snake, a Chinese design-focused pop-up store launched on Thursday at Harrods in London, capturing the attention of a global audience.
Supported by China's leading retailer and talent support platform Labelhood, the pop-up store showcases a curated selection of New Year-themed pieces and handcrafted artifacts from over 20 emerging Chinese artists and brands, including UMA WANG, Tangxindan, SAMUEL GUI YANG and CLOT, under the theme of Spiritual Homeland.
The Labelhood New Year pop-up store in London showcases its Spiritual Homeland theme in Harrods' main street exhibition windows. The store opens from Jan 9 to Jan 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Located on the first floor of Harrods, the store is adorned with vibrant red backdrops, creating a festive and celebratory atmosphere. In adding, a family photo booth has been set up, offering visitors the opportunity to have portraits and have an immersive experience of Chinese New Year with friends and loved ones.
This year has marked the third year of Labelhood's cooperation with Harrods. "Every step it is out of my expectation through out the three years," Tasha Liu, founder of Labelhood said. "And we have made enough efforts to seize these opportunities."
"I really hope that with this Chinese New Year pop-up event, more people in London, and even around the world, can witness the dynamic vitality, originality, and creativity of Chinese design," she said.
"On the global stage, Chinese designers' cultural confidence has grown significantly over the years. In the past, many aspired to be international designers. Now, they are embracing their cultural roots and telling authentic Chinese stories from a Chinese perspective. These unique oriental narratives and distinct aesthetics embedded in Chinese designs are irreplaceable and represent their greatest competitiveness."
Designs from the ethnic jewelry brand CUNZU are showcased at the LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store at Harrods in London. [Photo by He Xiating/chinadaily.com.cn]
Wu Di, the founder of the brand CUNZU showcased at the pop-up store, shared her journey:
"I originally studied sociology, focusing on China's Miao ethnic group. My interest in accessory design grew during my research with Miao villagers in Southwest China's Guizhou province. This experience led to collaborations with them, culminating in the launch of my brand in 2021.
"Chinese handicrafts, like Miao craftsmanship, are rarely seen outside of China. For us, it's not just about creating accessories—we aim to use jewelry as a medium to showcase the culture and craftsmanship of Miao ethnic minorities, sharing their stories and traditions with a global audience."
A design from one of the Visa Creator Program designers is showcased at the LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store at Harrods in London. [Photo by He Xiating/chinadaily.com.cn]
Additionally, a collection of four Chinese brands—8ON8, YIRANTIAN, XU ZHI, and YAYI—supported by the Visa Creator Program, stands out at the pop-up store.
Launched in October 2024, the Visa Creator Program is a collaborative initiative between Visa, the Shanghai Fashion Designers Association (SFDA), and Shanghai Fashion Week (SHFW).
The program seeks to connect creative innovation with commercial opportunities, empowering Chinese designers to expand their influence on the global stage.
"As one of the largest payment networks globally, we truly believe that with our global reach and capabilities, we are committed to empowering young designers and creators, as well as supporting the creator economy worldwide," said Danielle Jin, VP of Marketing, Greater China, at VISA.
The pop up store is open from Jan 9 to Jan 21.
The LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store themed Spiritual Homeland is showcased at Harrods main street exhibition windows. Located on the first floor of Harrods, the store is adorned with vibrant red backdrops, creating a festive and celebratory atmosphere. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Designs from Chinese young designers are showcased at the LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store at Harrods in London. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Designs from Chinese young designers are showcased at the LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store at Harrods in London. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Handcrafted artifacts from Chinese young designers are showcased at the LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store at Harrods in London. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Handcrafted artifacts from Chinese young designers are showcased at the LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store at Harrods in London. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A family photo booth is set up at the LABELHOOD New Year pop-up store at Harrods in London, offering visitors the opportunity to have portraits and have an immersive experience of Chinese New Year with friends and loved ones. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
