Blanc de Chine was established with a unique and admirable vision to demonstrate through the design of clothing and lifestyle products, that the past 5,000 year of Chinese culture is still relevant to the future.

With the first retail shop established in 1993, it was the first Chinese international luxury label that has successfully translated traditional Chinese culture into modern day fashion. Some of best examples include its signature products such as the Zhong Shan Suit, the Qi Pao, the Chinese Tunic, the Shanghai Jacket and the Mien O (or the Chinese quilted jacket).

Blanc de Chine is the champion in modernizing the traditional Zhong Shan suit and promoting it as a formal cultural wear reflecting a dignified, modern Chinese identity. Likewise, its design in Qi Pao emphasizes on the traditional Chinese value of femininity which aims at bringing out the inner beauty and the quiet elegance of a woman.

For Mien O (the Chinese quilted jacket), it is sometimes regarded as the “King of Garment”. Already being a comfortable and functional winter wear, Blanc de Chine reinvented the Mien O into a new design concept, adding extra dimension of modernity by improving the cutting, the making and the texture of the garment.

Among all the collections that Blanc de Chine has created, the one that is most symbolic of the brand’s design inspiration is the highly abstract “Dao” collection. “Dao” – the way of life and also referring to the “du dao” (or “du dou” 肚兜), is a typical one-piece, two dimensional Chinese fabric invented as an undergarment more than 2,000 years ago. Inspired by the Buddhist notion that truth and reality have more than one facet, the “Dao” collection explores the interplay of form and shape from two-dimensional to three-dimensional and vice versa. It magically transforms from a flat piece of cloth on a table top into a three-dimensional dress on a human figure.

Embracing the eight design elements of simplicity, serenity, purity, sensuality, harmony, subtlety, comfort and functionality, it was these fundamental values in design that has distinguished the brand’s uniqueness and creativity.

As a preamble to the celebration of its 20th anniversary in 2013, the Blanc de Chine 2012 Fall/Winter collection traces its footsteps back to its roots, adding refined touches to the above timeless classics. The simplicity in design and the purity of the concept makes a strong statement against the current fashion trend.

Inevitably, things change, people change, in fact, everything changes in the passage of time. But yet, classics last forever. It is this notion of “so ancient, so modern” that shapes the inspiration of the Blanc de Chine 2012 Fall/Winter collection.