Fragrance house

Shanghai Tang

Shanghai Tang was established in Hong Kong in 1994 by Sir David Tang and was described as the first contemporary luxury brand from China. Its founding identity combined Chinese cultural heritage with Western design influences in a contemporary lifestyle offering. From 2001 to 2008, creative director Joanne Ooi developed seasonal collections inspired by themes including the Silk Road, Peking opera, Mongolian nomads, and Chinese writing, while expanding the use of Chinese contemporary artists, designers, and models in advertising. After losing its Pedder Street flagship lease in 2011, the brand used the relocation to redefine its concept, identity, product offer, and presentation around modern Chinese chic. Richemont took a controlling stake in 1998, acquired full ownership in 2008, and sold the brand on 30 June 2017 to an entity controlled by Alessandro Bastagli. Shanghai Tang was acquired by Shanghai-based private-equity firm Lunar Capital in 2018, and Lunar currently states that it owns and leads the brand. Following that acquisition, Victoria Tang-Owen, the founder’s daughter, was appointed creative director and led a reinterpretation of the brand’s heritage. Scent has remained part of the brand experience, with Ginger Flower identified as its classic home-fragrance series and associated with its signature fragrance.