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us are feeding the dream by taking
full-time jobs. But the stories of some
successful brands have inspired us,
so we’re going to fix our eyes on the
North Star and keep true to our
course, even if everyone is laughing
at us.
Who are your favourite
artists?
Ai Weiwei. He is very edgy,
and he receives international
recognition and respect. As for
designers, that will be Ming
Emperor Zhu Youxiao [
laughs
].
He may not be a qualified emperor,
but definitely a great carpentry
designer!
Always roaming around different cities in China, freelance
artist Bei Ge stays busy working on 3D designs, folk music
performances and planning art events. Pursuing a vision
he had dreamt up with friends, of one day owning a utopian
artists’ colony, Youwei Qingnian She was born. This space, a
home base to the city’s hipsters, simultaneously functions as
a loft, design studio, gallery and base for folk musicians, and is
set up in a beautiful colonial building in Qingdao.
Tell us about the ideas behind
your studio.
It is about achieving something
meaningful while we are still
young and passionate. My friends and
I have been discussing what kind of
platform we want for our life and
works – definitely no office, no cells
and no clocks…We needed a free space
to create something alongside people
with the same interests and dreams.
What’s the essence of this
brand?
Our target is people who love
original culture and production.
This brand blends Confucian, Daoist
and Buddhist concepts. Clothes are
mostly tailor made, using natural
cotton, linen and some hand-weaving
textiles, and adding elements that are
rarely used nowadays like traditional
knotted Chinese buttons and Bodhi
tree seeds. Another production line
of the brand is ceramics – we are
reviving traditional techniques and
developing original designs in
this field.
Is it difficult to create an
original brand in China?
Very much so, I feel. Many
difficulties such as funds and
publicity stand in the way. Some of
Founder of
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How do you feel about the
phrase “made in China”?
It was no more than its literal
meaning when I first learned
English at middle school.
Nowadays, the phrase seems to
have a very different meaning. It
sometimes represents a lack of
originality.
Are you confident that you
will be able to change this
old concept?
Our productions must be
tagged “made in China”, with
the Chinese tags “
ʕ௴ி
”,
which
actually means something more –
“
created in China”.
City:
Qingdao
Designer:
Bei Ge
YOUWEI QINGNIAN SHE
Besides the indie brand “Dongru Chuangshe”, this art/design studio is a magnet for
young creative talents in Qingdao. Regular events are held, and everyone interested in original Chinese design and
arts is welcome to sit down for conversations over a cup of coffee.
46
Jiangsu Lu, Qingdao; site.douban.com/172742
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