Shopping in Hangzhou, the Chinese megacity where 13 million people live
A shop-gallery where every outfit is an opportunity for a trip around the world, from European garments to oriental jewellery, from Parisian ceramics to Italian-made bags.
by Lisa Corva
Seeker Narrator in Hangzhou, a Chinese megacity of 13 million people, is a shop-gallery whose name is a manifesto. "We are Seeker, seekers, and Narrator, storytellers," explain Jun Lyu and Nina Miao, the founders. "We try to collect and bring here the wonders scattered around the world. But we choose those that contain a story worth listening to. Let's start with fashion, with two brands we fell in love with: the Italian Daniela Gregis (€600 to €3,100) with her fabrics, one in particular that captures the shades of the sky, from blue to midnight black. This year she also has an incredible collection in white. From Paris, Casey Casey Orsan, the French designer's new line inspired by the ancient Prieuré d'Orsan monastery, where he now lives. A masterpiece is the skirt, which reveals itself when you touch it and wear it because it almost becomes a dance movement (from 600 to 1,200 euros).
And then we have small independent Japanese brands, like Aodress and Sugri, French ones, like Sophie Digard, Manuelle Guibal. And many Italians: Sciuscià, Tagliovivo bags, Silvana Manetti, Boboutic, Bergfabel, Album di Famiglia'. An interesting Chinese brand, in your opinion? "Kreuzzz, by Danielle Hu (€90 to €800 for custom-made pieces). A graduate of the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Scotland, there she discovered the technique of hand felting and the sculptural potential of natural fibres, which she then applied to hats. Added to this is the iconic technique of lacquer work, known as Laquier, typical of her hometown of Fuzhou: lacquer is a material that is not found in Western hat making, but according to her it is perfect for its lightness, especially when combined with the patchwork of ramie fabric, the vegetable silk, another typically Oriental material'. At Seeker Narrator there is also jewellery, such as that of the Japanese Rusty Thought (from 200 to 500 euros) and a few novelties for the home: for example, Parisian ceramics by Carron (from 100 to 800 euros), Swedish brushes by Iris Hantverk (from 15 to 50 euros), English cutlery by David Mellor, Fresco glass bowls and plates from Japan, and so-seen grass ceramics by the Chinese artist Minjing (from 40 to 100 euros).
And to discover Hangzhou? 'Our city is vibrant, blending cutting-edge technology with a thousand-year-old history. It is a global hub for the digital economy, here are the headquarters of Alibaba and DeepSeek, the well-known Chinese AI company. At its heart is the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the world's oldest and longest man-made waterway, 1,794 kilometres in six provinces connecting five major river systems: Hangzhou was the southern terminus. Seeker Narrator is in Canal Heaven, a lively mix of art, shopping and entertainment in a revitalised industrial setting. Just hop on a steamer to admire the Hushu Eight Sceneries, scenic spots celebrated over the centuries by poets and emperors'.
