Sheng, who set up the brand in 2013 in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, has been striving for perfection in his product design. He considers the small qipao buttons, which show the Chinese traditional "knot frog-button technique", as an independent piece of art in their own right, and worth the days he spent researching them online and learning from samples displayed at various exhibitions.
When he prepared for the design awards in 2019, which were organized by the local government, he visited the classical gardens in Suzhou and listened to local Kunqu Opera in the hope of delivering designs that expressed the charm of the city. Finally, he created clothing inspired by the city's ubiquitous flower, the Osmanthus. He named the work after an ancient Chinese poem that praises the beauty of the city, and successfully claimed the top prize.
The brand has set up a studio that focuses on research, inheritance and innovation of the traditional craftsmanship.
As Chiayi's chief designer, Sheng adds his observation of local history and culture to all his designs. He once visited the 72 alleys in Suzhou's Shengze town and drew inspiration from the patterns on tiles and handrails he saw.
