Elaborate Crafting: Shanghai Trio Arrives in Sanlitun

No ordinary Chinese memorabilia store, Shanghai Trio brings the spotlight back to the art, the history and the people. Its handmade accessories and home décor products are currently distributed all over the world, from Paris to Shanghai and now, finally, Beijing.

The elaborate crafting process involves scouring the country for the best textiles, and weaving and printing in an intimate workshop of 45 people. Drawing from the everyday life of locals, the designs tweak the textures and colors of traditional items to make them current and functional again.

The results are an interesting mishmash of traditional and modern, perhaps best reflected in their use of both refined and rough materials – like bamboo or organic cotton for the duvet covers (RMB 1,000-1,700), and modern plasticized cloth for passport cases (RMB 100) and raincoats (RMB 490).

Our personal favorite is the rice measuring cup handbag (RMB 430-480), inspired by the long-used rice wrapping bag – only this one comes with a hidden zip pocket and a linen, cotton or corduroy exterior.

Must buy: Gold silk and black cashmere blanket (RMB 1,900), “Electrician” pouch bag (RMB 550-620)
Also try: Chang & Biorck, Karolina Lehman

Shanghai Trio 上海组合
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-7pm. B1/F, NLG-38, Sanlitun Village North, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6417 3606) www.shanghaitrio.com, blog.shanghaitrio.com
朝阳区三里屯路11号三里屯Village北区地下1层NLG-38单

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