Blanc de Chine – modaCYCLE

Blanc de Chine – Pinnacle Silk and Sequins

In much the same way that Western fashion spends a great deal of time updating classic looks, so to do other cultures. But, because the other cultures’ fashion history isn’t familiar to us, the designs often appear fresh and wholly new. So it is with Blanc De Chine, however add into the mix their minimalist construction approach, which creates large sections of clean, flowing, unbroken fabric, and their passionate use of extraordinarily high-end silks, cottons, and sequins, and the final result is elegant and beautiful and different.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Rachel Reneé

Blanc de Chine – Fall 2012 – Black Porcelain

Blanc de Chine, a Hong Kong luxury label and pioneer in innovative textiles and silhouettes, has once again harmonized elegance and comfort in this season’s collection. Redefining its roots, this season the collections was all about the senses, a feast for the mind. Harmony was a key element as the collection was cohesive, each piece complementing the next.

story by Cassandra Past
photos by Michael Cinquino
web editor Rachel Reneé

Blanc de Chine – Spring 2012 Review – Elegance of Eons Renewed

Blanc de Chine’s epigram, “so ancient, so modern,” is again clearly present in their Spring 2012 collection of flowing silk tops, sequined dresses, minimalistic blazers, and Chinese collars. Suggested by their line sheet to have been inspired by ink and wash paintings, the color palate of the ancient-inspired silk brand’s newest collection consists of black with faint use of pastel pink, elegant lavender, and rejuvenating blue jewel tones. It is intended to demonstrate “how the mood is articulated through the paintings by combining the ‘qu’ (life force) with the brush and the ink.”

reporting by Ashley Roberts
photos by Adrianna Favero

Blanc de Chine‘s epigram, “so ancient, so modern,” is again clearly present in their Spring 2012 collection of flowing silk tops, sequined dresses, minimalistic blazers, and Chinese collars. Suggested by their line sheet to have been inspired by ink and wash paintings, the color palate of the ancient-inspired silk brand’s newest collection consists of black with faint use of pastel pink, elegant lavender, and rejuvenating blue jewel tones. It is intended to demonstrate “how the mood is articulated through the paintings by combining the ‘qu’ (life force) with the brush and the ink.” Continue reading “Blanc de Chine – Spring 2012 Review – Elegance of Eons Renewed”

Blanc de Chine – Photo Feature

Silk is first and foremost a Chinese fabric. It has been stolen, reproduced, and exported, but the greatest silk art and craft still belong to China, as do its most ancient secrets. Blanc De Chine depends upon every ounce of tradition and skill that their artisans possess.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Adrianna Favero
styling by Seth Friedermann
hair by Annie Olivia
makeup by Ruthie Weems
model Natalie from Elite

Good tradition does not prevent innovation, it preserves the space in which it flourishes. Blanc De Chine is a classic Chinese silk house with deep roots in the art of silk and Chinese tailoring. Silk is first and foremost a Chinese fabric. It has been stolen, reproduced, and exported, but the greatest silk art and craft still belong to China, as do its most ancient secrets. Blanc De Chine depends upon every ounce of tradition and skill that their artisans possess. It is their intimate understanding of the fabric and the thousands of years old techniques that allow them to imagine and create silks that no one else in the world has. Continue reading “Blanc de Chine – Photo Feature”

Blanc De Chine – Fall 2011

Blanc De Chine tends to take classical Chinese tailoring, such as mandarin collars and the like, and update them with little twists and turns. That’s just part of their story however, what Blanc De Chine does best is simple elegant and often dramatic silk clothes.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Shawn Punch
(photos provided by Blanc de Chine)

What is classic and iconic in one culture’s fashion is often unknown in others’. This creates the opportunity for a revolutionary feeling, when that classic look is exported to a new land. Remember the Nehru Jacket in the mid-60s? This is supposedly the age of Asian ascendancy, the old “Far East” is showing signs of becoming the new center, and the Asian aesthetic and Asian designers have more eyes on them than ever before. Somehow though, the tremendous work from Blanc De Chine has gone largely unnoticed. There is no artistic reason for this, as their work is consistently strong from season to season, and this season was no different. Continue reading “Blanc De Chine – Fall 2011”

Blanc de Chine – East Comes West – Spring 2009 Collection

by Sandy Ramirez

East Comes West

When I came to New York three years ago, one of the first things I did was walk. I walked all over Manhattan, familiarizing myself with it’s neighborhoods. One day I walked by the corner of West 53rd Street and 5th Ave on the way to the MOMA, when I noticed a new boutique: Blanc de Chine.

The clothing in the window had a minimalist austerity that was, in truth, beautiful. Ever since, the store has been one of my favorite Manhattan landmarks.

Founded in Hong Kong in 1995, Blanc de Chine is perhaps one of the worlds most exclusive marques. The name itself is an indication of that exclusivity, as it is the French term for the purist white porcelain of the Ming Dynasty. The porcelain was extremely rare and prized for it’s clean iridescence. Even today, this porcelain is made only in small quantities in a tiny corner of China. The company has a motto – “Simplicity, Serenity, Harmony, Subtlety, Purity, Comfort, Sensuality, & Functionality.” Much like that namesake rare white porcelain, Blanc de Chine’s designs share it’s scarceness, manufactured mostly by hand in only 20-25 copies of each design for distribution only in their four stores. Besides New York, there are two locations in Hong Kong, and one in Beijing.

The Spring 2009 collection completely adheres to the ideals expounded in their motto. Inspired by traditional Mandarin dress, this collection is history realized in silk, an understatement of pure elegance that is rarely achieved by any brand. The most noticeable were the sleek, modern reinterpretations of classic Chinese garments. Perhaps the most stunning piece presented was a Cheonogasm in white sequin that seemed to flow around the model with a current at the slightest movement.

A close second was a Hanfu-inspired black dress with Mandarin collar made of black silk jersey.

Here we see the use of traditional silk knot buttons on the shoulder of a white Dao inspired balloon dress, another highlight of a collection with so many stand-out designs.

Blanc de Chine is a new vision of the East, and much like the East, it is veiled in mystery; a place for the adventurous to explore and be enlightened by delicate dreams realized in silk.

In New York, Blanc de Chine is located at 673 Fifth Ave, on the corner of West 53rd Street.

[click for full runway show]