2NE1 performing at the Alexander Wang x H&M launch party in Shanghai. Credit: H&M
SHANGHAI– It’s official. The best parties of 2014 have got to be the launch parties of the Alexander Wang x H&M collaboration. Each H&M designer collaboration has been marked by an amazing event, think last year’s massive street party on a city scene built from scratch in Paris to celebrate the launch of the Isabel Marant x H&M collaboration.
Left: Chris Lee Yu Chun; Right: Fan Bing Bing. Credit: H&M
But this year, the Alexander Wang partnership has definitely beaten that Paris party hands down. The beyond cool party in New York, including a Missy Elliot performance, was the talk of the fashion industry. Although the recent Shanghai bash has a tough act to follow, the Asian contingent showed the rest of the world that they can party as hard, if not harder.
Here’s why Alexander Wang and H&M throw the best parties.
Left: Sunny Wang; Right (from left) Tian Yi, Zhao Lei and Emma Pei. Credit: H&M
SUPERSTAR CELEB GUEST LIST
Celebs just love A Wang. The A-listers were out in full force, flying in from all over Asia to show their support for Wang. Homegrown designer darlings Chris Lee Yi Chun and Fan Bing Bing graced the red carpet, along with popular South Korean girl group 2NE1. The party was not lacking in eye candy either with stars like Taiwanese hottie actor Sunny Wang and a brood of Chinese super models including Emma Pei and my personal favourite Zhao Lei.
Decked out head to toe in Alexander Wang x H&M, Chris Lee rocked the party. Credit: H&M
SURPRISE PERFORMANCES
Although most would have guessed that 2NE1 would take to the stage at the event, when member Minzy let slip on Instagram that she was flying to Shanghai; CL, Bom, Minzy and Dara didn’t disappoint and blew the crowd away with a four-set performance. The true surprise of the night was Chris Lee’s “Cool” performance – the Chinese singer almost never performs in such events – it was definitely a rare sight!
Armed with his T-shirt gun, Alexander Wang pleased the crowd by shooting T-shirts. Credit: H&M
ALEXANDER WANG HIMSELF
Aside from the guest performances and DJs Jesse Marco and Just Blaze on the decks, the designer was the life of the party. His T-shirt gun made an appearance and Wang shot T-shirts into the happy crowd who just wanted a piece of him. Later in the night, he appeared on stage, dancing alone to the delight of guests before pulling random people up to join him.
Check out the video below for highlights of the night:
The Alexander Wang x H&M party and pop-up store took place on November 4, 2014 at Lan Wave, No. 1526, Yangshupu Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai. The Alexander Wang X H&M collection is available at H&M Orchard Building and H&M ION Orchard. For more information, go to www.hm.com/sg/ and wangxhmlive.hm.com/.