Lane Crawford has much to celebrate. Ten years ago they were an aging department store that your mother might visit to purchase bed sheets. Today they are a destination, the kind of place you can get lost in admiring cutting-edge fashion, accessories and home furnishings.
Under the direction and vision of young-blood Jennifer Woo, the name Lane Crawford now means something in fashion corridors from Beijing to New York. From their origins as a humble biscuit maker in 1850, to their position as an international fashion power-house, Lane Crawford’s miraculous transformation is one of Hong Kong’s biggest turnarounds of the decade.
Jennifer Woo, who took over as president in 2003, has had a golden touch. Initiating a massive change in direction, she’s succeeded in developing Lane Crawford into a sleek, ultra-modern and forward thinking store. By enlisting the hottest new talent in global fashion, contemporary furnishings and accessories, Lane Crawford doesn’t sell individual items to shoppers, but a modern lifestyle. Their ability to reach China’s affluent, (now key drivers of luxury sales,) has sparked collaborations and brand seeding events that have attracted fashion’s new royalty.
Lane Crawford’s 160th anniversary
The sprawling party held to commemorate the company’s 160th birthday, was a testament to their success. Thrown in their IFC flagship location on December second, a lion’s share of the city’s creative trendsetters, socialites, and fashion folk mingled together all under one roof.
The well-attended party was one of the best of the year and featured art installations as well as fun side-show attractions.
[photopress:lane_crawford_art_fashon_160_HK.jpg,full,pp_image] [photopress:hong_kong_shopping_lane_crawford_HK_2.jpg,full,pp_image] [photopress:hong_kong_fashion_lane_crawford_HK_160.jpg,full,pp_image] [photopress:lane_crawford_heritage_160_HK.jpg,full,pp_image]Guests ambled from one corner of the multi-brand store to the other, bumping into friends, socializing and checking out games such as ping-pong, pool, and foosball. There were snack and drink stands set up throughout, as well as a barbeque on the balcony.
[photopress:lane_crawford_party_fashion_show_2.jpg,full,pp_image]The number of people in attendance was impressive, as was the quality. (I ran into four friends named Simon alone!) Individuals from Hong Kong’s many creative pockets came out to join in the celebration.
Happy 160th birthday Lane Crawford! Looking forward to seeing what comes next!
