Most of us grew up thinking of cobblers as just funny figures from folk tales.  Here in China, though, having footwear made to order is a feasible and affordable option.  If you've ever longed to own a pair of shoes that fit you perfectly, consider the following shoemakers.

Remember when you went to school? Your sneakers could be the cause of much upset if you didn’t have the “right” pair. Thing is, things don’t really change. People are still going to notice and comment on your choice of footwear. On the upside, Beijing is not gangland, so there’s no risk that those shoes your mum picked out could get you shot.

Last Friday, August 27, 2010, Vogue China celebrated its 5th anniversary with the presentation of its photo exhibition “The Best of Vogue China: Five Years,” and a glamorous party awash with supermodels and champagne.

The day began around 4pm, when a press conference with models Fei Fei Sun, Karlie Kloss, Patricia van der Vliet, Du Juan, Liu Wen and Ming Xi arrived to answer questions and, of course, speak glowingly of Vogue.

Diamonds serve as the most romantic of gifts, whether they’re in the form of earrings, pendants or, of course, engagement rings. But if you’re unlearned in the intricacies of diamond selection, they can be a challenging investment here in Beijing.

If you haven’t heard of Zhang Da before, who could blame you? He's earned a reputation as one of China's most mysterious designers, probably because he shows so little enthusiasm for promoting himself. Still, he has managed to become well-renowned for his unique design technique, best illustrated through his own label Boundless ("Meibian" 没边). More recently, he was also enlisted to design for Hermes’ up-and-coming China-based label Shang Xia.

Though his atelier is located in Shanghai, he flew down to Beijing to lead a four-part design series at 798’s Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA). It all began in early July with a student workshop (in which Zhang Da instructed students from the Beijing Institute of Clothing Technology) and concluded with a “fashion show” last Sunday, August 15, previewing his Fall/Winter 2010 collection.