Shanghai Tang’s
new flagship store, located in the old Marine Police Headquarters (circa 1881) in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, represents the group’s spirit of preserving heritage while showcasing the new and exciting.
The new store – with a restored timber and old-style brick façade - is as eye-catching as it is unique; fronting a new luxury Grand Hyatt Hotel and high-end lifestyle retail outlets housed within what was the main building of the headquarters.
Creative Director/Photographer Earl Wan shot the new flagship store for the press release. It was “very important that the photograph shoots the soul of the building and its beauties. Not to be shot like any other Shanghai Tang store,” we had to “look at its specificities and aspiring details.” They wanted “a romantic and luxurious mood”
“Capturing the essence of the building proved more difficult than it seemed. With lots of obstacles like sign post, people, and tight spaces, it was hard to capture everything I had in mind. I also had to think carefully and quickly, exactly what they meant by “the soul of the building”.
After a quick tour around the building, I decided to shoot sections of the store that looked picturesque, emphasizing more on the architectural structure and its unique features rather than the products itself. I wanted the photos to look more like paintings rather than just regular photos, so it leaves an everlasting impression.
I would like to think that I’ve portrayed a good harmony of old and new, “a romantic and luxurious mood”; making the photos more memorable in the public eye.
Shanghai Tang is an international clothing company, founded in 1994 by Hong Kong businessman Sir David Tang Wing Cheung and now controlled by the luxury group, Richemont.