Best Chinese & China-Based Luxury Brands to Shop in China
China's luxury landscape is changing. Alongside the world's established international maisons, a new generation of Chinese luxury brands and designers is creating a distinctly local expression of modern luxury — one shaped by craftsmanship, culture, design and a quieter sense of sophistication.
From Shanghai fashion and contemporary leather goods to fine jewellery, fragrance, beauty and traditional craftsmanship, these are the names worth knowing before your next trip to China.
For What's New Asia, we have selected the Chinese brands that stand out for their design, craftsmanship and sense of place — the pieces worth seeking out rather than simply bringing home a souvenir.
What are the best Chinese luxury brands to shop in China?
Some of the most notable Chinese luxury and designer brands include SHANG XIA, ICICLE, Songmont, Laopu Gold, Uma Wang, To Summer and Documents. They span fashion, handbags, jewellery, fragrance, beauty and contemporary Chinese craftsmanship.
1. SHANG XIA
Chinese craftsmanship, reimagined
Few brands embody the idea of contemporary Chinese luxury quite like SHANG XIA.
Its world extends from fashion and leather goods to furniture, ceramics, tea ware and home objects, bringing centuries-old Chinese craftsmanship into a distinctly modern setting.
The appeal is subtle: beautifully considered materials, exceptional workmanship and designs that feel unmistakably Chinese without being overly traditional.
Discover: Cashmere, leather, jewellery, ceramics, tea ware and home objects.
Why it stands out: For something that feels genuinely connected to China's artistic heritage.
https://www.shangxia.com/en/pages/store
2. ICICLE
The quiet side of Chinese luxury
Shanghai-born ICICLE has become synonymous with understated sophistication.
Natural fabrics, relaxed tailoring and timeless silhouettes define the brand, creating a wardrobe that feels luxurious without relying on prominent logos.
It is a particularly compelling choice for travellers who appreciate quiet luxury, craftsmanship and longevity.
Discover: Cashmere, silk, linen, tailoring and ready-to-wear.
Why it stands out: Modern Chinese luxury at its most refined and effortless.
3. SONGMONT
Contemporary Chinese leather goods
Songmont has emerged as one of the most recognisable names in China's new generation of handbag brands.
Founded in Beijing, the label draws inspiration from Chinese architecture, nature and traditional forms while keeping its designs modern, functional and remarkably easy to wear.
Discover: Handbags, leather goods, wallets and accessories.
Why we love it: A sophisticated way to take home a piece of contemporary Chinese design.
4. LAOPU GOLD
China's new language of gold
Gold has always held a special place in Chinese culture. Laopu Gold brings that tradition into a more contemporary world of jewellery.
Its pieces reinterpret traditional Chinese craftsmanship and symbolism through sculptural, highly distinctive designs.
Discover: Gold jewellery and statement pieces inspired by Chinese culture.
Why it stands out: Jewellery with a strong sense of identity rather than simply another luxury logo.
https://www.instagram.com/laopugoldofficial/
5. UMA WANG
Fashion with an artistic edge
For those looking beyond conventional luxury, Uma Wang offers a more intellectual and avant-garde interpretation of Chinese fashion.
Known for fluid silhouettes, layered textures and an understated palette, the designer's collections have developed an international following while retaining a distinctive point of view.
Discover: Coats, knitwear, dresses, tailoring and accessories.
Why it stands out: Sophisticated, artistic and far removed from conventional designer fashion.
https://www.instagram.com/umawangofficial/
Upcoming Shanghai Fashion Week 2026
6. NEIWAI
Everyday luxury, beautifully considered
Not every luxury purchase needs to be dramatic.
Chinese lifestyle and fashion brand NEIWAI has built its reputation around comfort, simplicity and thoughtful design, creating elevated essentials for modern life.
Discover: Lingerie, loungewear, basics and everyday clothing.
Why we love it: Understated pieces that become part of everyday life.
7. TO SUMMER
A modern Chinese fragrance story
China's fragrance scene has developed rapidly, with independent houses drawing inspiration from tea, flowers, woods, gardens and Chinese landscapes.
To Summer is one of the names to discover, translating these cultural references into contemporary fragrance and lifestyle products.
Discover: Perfume, candles and fragrance.
Why it stands out: A beautifully personal way to take a memory of China home.
8. DOCUMENTS
Niche fragrance meets contemporary design
Documents represents another fascinating side of China's emerging fragrance culture.
Its approach treats perfume as more than scent, creating a world where fragrance, art and design intersect.
Discover: Contemporary perfume and scented lifestyle products.
Why we love it: For fragrance collectors looking for something beyond the familiar international houses.
https://documentsofficial.com/
9. HERBORIST
Traditional Chinese beauty, reinterpreted
Chinese beauty has a long relationship with botanical ingredients and traditional herbal knowledge.
Herborist brings these influences into contemporary skincare, creating a bridge between traditional Chinese beauty philosophies and modern formulations.
Discover: Skincare, botanical beauty and treatment products.
Why it stands out: A distinctly Chinese approach to beauty and wellness.
https://www.jahwa.com.cn/en/herborist
10. CHARLOTTA GANDOLFO
Best for: Quiet glamour, tactile luxury & resort-to-city dressing
Founded in 2018 by Swedish designer Charlotta Gandolfo, the eponymous European luxury house brings together Scandinavian restraint, Mediterranean ease and a distinctly international point of view.
With longstanding ties to Shanghai, the House has developed a particular relationship with China’s exceptional textile heritage and craftsmanship. Silk remains central to the collections, with many pieces created in close collaboration with specialist makers whose knowledge of the material has been refined across generations.
The collections are defined by sculptural silhouettes, tactile fabrics and relaxed elegance, designed to move effortlessly between resort destinations and sophisticated city settings. The result is a wardrobe of quiet confidence: architectural yet fluid, restrained yet sensual.
Since launching in 2018, Charlotta Gandolfo has built an international presence across Europe, Asia and the United States, while maintaining a strong connection to Shanghai and the specialist craftsmanship found in China.
Discover: Silk tailoring, fluid dresses, tactile separates and sophisticated day-to-evening pieces.
Why It Stands Out: A European luxury house with a truly international perspective — bringing Scandinavian restraint and Mediterranean ease together with an exceptional understanding of silk, material and movement.
What’s New Asia tip: If you're shopping in China, Charlotta Gandolfo offers an unusual meeting of European design and exceptional Chinese textile craftsmanship. Look here if your style leans toward quiet glamour, beautiful materials and sophisticated resort-to-city dressing
Charlotta Gandolfo Official Website
https://www.instagram.com/charlottagandolfo/
Beyond the Brands
Some of the most memorable luxury purchases in China aren't fashion labels at all.
Chinese Tea
Explore Longjing, Pu'er, Wuyi tea and other regional varieties from respected specialist houses.
Jingdezhen Ceramics
For lovers of design and craftsmanship, China's porcelain tradition offers everything from exquisite traditional pieces to contemporary studio ceramics.
Silk
Silk scarves, robes and contemporary silk accessories remain timeless Chinese purchases.
Jade
A culturally significant material with a long history in China. For valuable pieces, buy only from reputable specialists and request appropriate documentation.
Chinese Fragrance
Shanghai has become particularly interesting for independent perfume houses, many of which draw on tea, osmanthus, woods, herbs and traditional Chinese landscapes.
Contemporary Craft
Look for beautifully made lacquerware, bamboo, embroidery, cloisonné and other regional crafts.
Where to Discover Chinese Luxury
Shanghai
China's contemporary luxury capital
For discovering China's emerging luxury scene, Shanghai is the natural starting point.
Explore beyond the international names of Nanjing West Road and major luxury malls. The Former French Concession, Xintiandi and independent concept stores offer a more intimate look at China's fashion, fragrance, beauty and design scene.
Beijing
Heritage meets modern design
Beijing is particularly rewarding for those interested in traditional craftsmanship, Chinese heritage and contemporary design.
Look beyond conventional shopping malls and explore specialist boutiques, galleries and craft houses.
Chengdu
Lifestyle, tea & emerging design
Chengdu offers a more relaxed introduction to contemporary Chinese culture, with excellent opportunities to discover tea, lifestyle products, independent designers and local craftsmanship.
Shenzhen
New-generation Chinese design
Young, innovative and highly connected, Shenzhen is increasingly interesting for discovering emerging Chinese fashion, design and lifestyle brands.
What to Buy in China
If you're short on time, our recommendations are simple:
For quiet luxury: ICICLE
For handbags: Songmont
For craftsmanship: SHANG XIA
For jewellery: Laopu Gold
For fashion: Uma Wang
For fragrance: To Summer or Documents
For beauty: Herborist
For a meaningful gift: Chinese tea, silk or ceramics
The What's New Asia Selection
China's new luxury story isn't about reproducing the old luxury model.
It is about craftsmanship with a modern point of view, heritage interpreted for a new generation, and products that carry a sense of place.
The most interesting purchases are often the ones you won't see everywhere else — a sculptural piece of Chinese gold, a beautifully cut cashmere coat, a contemporary handbag or a fragrance inspired by an ancient garden.
This is the new face of Chinese luxury: confident, sophisticated and distinctly its own.
What's New Asia
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