Shanghai Tang creative director on her father David Tang’s legacy, her plans for taking the brand forward, and practical fashion
- Central Saint Martins graduate Victoria Tang-Owen has reconnected with her roots by taking over as creative head of Hong Kong lifestyle brand Shanghai Tang
- She talks about expanding into new markets, growing the brand’s non-fashion offering, and putting a distinctive spin on Chinese culture
Chinese-inspired luxury brand Shanghai Tang has seen its fortunes rise and fall under several owners, including Swiss luxury conglomerate Richemont and Cassia Investments, a Hong Kong-based private equity firm. Now the brand founded in 1994 by the late Sir David Tang has come full circle.
“I don’t think my father ever thought about [Shanghai Tang] as his legacy. Personally I don’t want to make the brand my only legacy – I want to be part of many things – but it’s important that my father is still very connected to the brand’s story. And by default, that means it is part of my story too – back then and now,” says Tang-Owen.
Aside from the obvious family connection – she fondly remembers being decked out in Shanghai Tang clothing for most of her youth – the 34-year-old Tang-Owen ticked all the right boxes.
A graphic designer and photographer, she studied at Central Saint Martins in London, one of the top world’s top fashion schools, and worked at fashion brand Issa London. She returned to Hong Kong in 2012 to design and create products for Tang Tang Tang Tang, a Chinese-inspired lifestyle brand also founded by her father. Tang-Owen was running her own creative agency, Thirty30 Creative, when she was contacted about the role.