On November 5, the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). A record 4,142 companies from 148 countries and regions participated, presenting their products and technologies. The total exhibition area exceeded 440,000 square metres for the first time, while the number of participating Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders surpassed 300, also a first. More than 2,000 companies were first-time exhibitors.
Among those making their CIIE debuts were American luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren, Canadian technical outdoor brand Arc’teryx, American premium lifestyle brand WOOLRICH, and Chinese fashion brand EP YAYING. Luxeplace.com was invited to attend the opening ceremonies of their pavilions on November 6.
Ralph Lauren
On November 6, Ralph Lauren made its debut at the 9th China International Import Expo. Under the theme “Dreaming of a Better Life, Together Towards a Happy Future“, the brand invited visitors to immerse themselves in its world through a series of distinctive lifestyle settings encompassing fashion, home furnishings and dining experiences.
Shin Hwee Chua, Ralph Lauren’s Regional Chief Executive Officer for Asia Pacific, said, “The CIIE demonstrates China’s firm commitment to high-standard opening-up and provides an important platform for international brands to connect with Chinese consumers and pursue a better life together. This aspiration for a better life resonates deeply with Ralph Lauren’s brand philosophy. For nearly 60 years, we have remained true to our purpose of inspiring the dream of a better life through authenticity and timeless style. We look forward to sharing Ralph Lauren’s long-term vision at the CIIE and, in our own way, accompanying consumers as they pursue happiness and embrace a better life.”
From left: Mr Virgil Bisio, Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai; Ms Clare Orvis, Director of the Economic and Political Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai; Ms Shin Hwee Chua, Ralph Lauren’s Regional Chief Executive Officer for Asia Pacific; Mr Li Guoqing, Deputy Director-General of the China International Import Expo Bureau; Mr Michael Hart, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China; and Mr Huang Yifeng, Managing Director of Ralph Lauren China
The Ralph Lauren pavilion featured four carefully designed themed areas, Western, Seaside, Estate and City Living, bringing the brand’s timeless yet diverse styles to life. Inspired by the brand’s purpose, the pavilion design continued founder Ralph Lauren’s immersive, cinematic approach to storytelling. Each space presented a distinctive expression of the brand’s lifestyle, allowing visitors to experience Ralph Lauren as more than a way of dressing: a way of living that encompasses everyday life, social gatherings, work and dreams.
Above, from top left to bottom right: Western, Seaside, Estate and City Living
The four themed areas also displayed selected pieces from Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label and Double RL. Each look reflected the distinctive character and spirit of its setting. From classic styles rooted in country life and the American West to relaxed coastal looks and refined urban elegance, the designs illustrated the diverse expressions of Ralph Lauren’s enduring design language. Interactive NFC installations within the pavilion also allowed visitors to explore brand content created exclusively for the CIIE.
During the exhibition, Ralph Lauren also hosted a panel discussion titled “Developing the Capacity for Greater Happiness“. The panel brought together Wu Bofan, Director of the New Species Research Institute; Liu Qing, a Daguan Scholar, Zijiang Distinguished Professor and doctoral supervisor at East China Normal University; Kaiping Peng, Professor in the Department of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences at Tsinghua University; and Li Wei, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Sanlian Lifeweek. They explored how contemporary values, inner fulfilment and emotional connections between people shape the pursuit of happiness and a better life.
From left: moderator Liu Yanchi; Wu Bofan, Director of the New Species Research Institute; Liu Qing, a Daguan Scholar, Zijiang Distinguished Professor and doctoral supervisor at East China Normal University; Kaiping Peng, Professor in the Department of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences at Tsinghua University; and Li Wei, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Sanlian Lifeweek
Arc’teryx
On November 6, Arc’teryx, the technical outdoor brand founded in Canada’s Coast Mountains, officially unveiled its pavilion at the 9th China International Import Expo. Making its first appearance in the CIIE’s Consumer Goods exhibition area, the brand presented its progress in advancing technical gear and exploring circularity, while sharing its long-term vision for continued investment in the Chinese market.
Yin Yi, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Arc’teryx Greater China, said, “Outdoor sports have flourished in China in recent years, creating opportunities for further growth for outdoor brands, including Arc’teryx. Our CIIE debut is a natural next step after nearly 20 years of development in the Chinese market. Through the reach of this platform, we hope to share Arc’teryx’s technical expertise and continuous innovation grounded in real-world needs, while deepening dialogue and collaboration with partners to contribute more effectively to the development of China’s outdoor industry.”
For this year’s CIIE, Arc’teryx adopted the theme “Evolving Through Innovation, Built for the Long Run“. Set within a space inspired by mountain terrain, the pavilion featured a looped visitor route connecting sections dedicated to the brand’s origins, flagship technologies, material regeneration and interactive experiences. Together, these traced its progress across three areas: technical gear, advanced technologies and circularity.
In the section dedicated to the brand’s origins, visitors could look back on more than three decades of evolution at Arc’teryx, which has continually advanced technical gear in response to real outdoor needs. Milestones included the introduction of its first climbing harness in 1989, the application of thermoforming and lamination technology to the Bora backpack in 1994, and the launch of the first-generation Alpha SV hardshell jacket in 1998.
The centrepiece of Arc’teryx’s CIIE presentation was the Sperro SV Jacket, a high-performance multisport hardshell and the brand’s first product to receive TESTEX® Circularity certification. Its design integrates durability, repairability and material recyclability to address longstanding challenges in circular design. Drawing on the GORE-TEX brand’s specialist testing expertise, Arc’teryx jointly developed a GORE-TEX® PRO fabric with an ePE membrane to deliver lasting waterproof, windproof and breathable performance. Its face fabric and backer also contain ECONYL® regenerated nylon produced by partner Aquafil. At the end of the Sperro SV’s useful life, components containing ECONYL® regenerated nylon-6 can be returned to Aquafil for regeneration.
The Sperro SV Jacket is also the brand’s first product to feature a Digital Product Passport. By scanning a laser-etched QR code on the jacket, consumers can access care and repair advice through ReBIRD™. New colourways for the Sperro SV were also unveiled and displayed during the CIIE.
At the pavilion, Arc’teryx also presented its ReBIRD™ service programme, launched in 2021. Covering gear care, repair and rental services, the programme now has nine ReBIRD™ service centres in Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. At this year’s CIIE, visitors could watch Arc’teryx’s specialist technicians demonstrate the complete repair process for a damaged hardshell jacket.
WOOLRICH
American premium lifestyle brand WOOLRICH, with nearly two centuries of history, made its CIIE debut under the theme “Born for the Elements“.
This marked the brand’s first appearance on a national platform for international engagement under Baoxiniao Holding’s global operating structure, following the company’s acquisition of WOOLRICH’s intellectual property rights worldwide, excluding Europe. Through the CIIE, WOOLRICH presented its brand values and contemporary product portfolio to Chinese consumers, industry partners and the global business community. It also used the occasion as a strategic springboard to strengthen ties with stakeholders across the Chinese market and bring fresh momentum to international cooperation in the consumer goods sector.
Visitors entering the WOOLRICH pavilion encountered an immersive space blending natural aesthetics with brand culture. Centred on the idea of “bringing the wilderness into the city”, the pavilion brought the spirit of Pennsylvania’s mountains and forests to Shanghai through birch woodland imagery, cabin settings and displays inspired by nature. Timber structures and earthy tones created a warm, tranquil atmosphere steeped in the brand’s heritage.
Inside, the “Wilderness Living Room” brought retail and experience together, with a wool blanket area, leather sofas, a turntable and books creating a living space where visitors could linger. On the other side, the “Nature Inspiration Archive” traced the brand’s key milestones through historical displays and a brand storytelling wall, giving consumers a compelling reason to make a dedicated visit.
The pavilion showcased the brand’s signature Arctic Parka and classic red-and-black Buffalo Check blankets, alongside the mainline collection introduced with a major push for the Chinese market and the Black Label collection, which combines technology and craftsmanship. Interactive activities, including a runway show and wool felting workshops, invited visitors to experience WOOLRICH’s vision of “bringing the wilderness into everyday urban life” as they touched soft fabrics and felt the warmth of wood.
WOOLRICH structures its product portfolio around different lifestyle settings: the mainline collection caters to everyday urban dressing; the technical outdoor line addresses the needs of short trips and extended stays away from home; and Black Label combines the brand’s DNA with contemporary tailoring. Its classic blankets extend from travel to relaxation at home, meeting consumers’ needs across a range of settings.
Behind these iconic exhibits lies WOOLRICH’s heritage, shaped over nearly 200 years. Founded in 1830, WOOLRICH initially outfitted lumberjacks, railway workers and others working outdoors, before meeting the demands of extreme environments such as Antarctic scientific expeditions and pipeline construction in Alaska. These experiences established a brand identity combining functionality, reliability and cultural recognition.
Looking ahead, WOOLRICH will continue to make China a core strategic market, increasing investment in brand building, distribution expansion, supply chain coordination and the consumer experience.
EP YAYING
EP YAYING made its CIIE debut under the theme “Weaving and Creating Together, Eastern YAYING“. Designed by architect Lv Yongzhong, the pavilion combined a tree-like structural framework with earthy colours inspired by dyeing and weaving to create a space of Eastern elegance.
Founded in 1988, EP YAYING marked a significant milestone in its 38-year history with its CIIE debut. It also represented an important opportunity for the brand to draw on China’s dual-circulation development framework, linking domestic and international markets, and make its voice heard through a national platform for opening-up.
The pavilion’s “Elegance in Bloom” section displayed the brand’s trademarks through the years, from the formal registration of “YAYING” in 1995 to the introduction of the refreshed “EP” logo in 2009, followed in 2020 by “EP YAYING”, which brought together Chinese pinyin and an international visual language. The evolution of these trademarks traced the brand’s journey from its domestic roots to the world stage.
In the “Shared Roots of Warp and Weft” section, EP YAYING demonstrated how it puts its philosophy of “weaving and creating together” into practice at every stage of the supply chain.
At home, the brand has focused on its “Three Treasures”: Grade 6A mulberry silk from Ningnan, Sichuan, yak down from Aba and Tibetan regions, and “White in White” Alashan cashmere. In yak down alone, it has purchased a cumulative 623 tonnes of raw fibre over nine years of collaboration, raised the overall utilisation rate from 28% to 38%, secured 10 patents and generated RMB36 million (approximately USD5.4 million) in income at source for 1,380 Tibetan herding households. By establishing production bases in partnership with local communities in the regions of origin, the brand supports industrial development, ecological conservation and shared prosperity for herders.
Internationally, EP YAYING has built longstanding, close collaborations with century-old textile houses including Italy’s Loro Piana, France’s Bucol and Switzerland’s Forster Rohner. Its approach goes beyond importing overseas fabrics: it brings global resources together through Eastern design, combining rare materials with generations of international craftsmanship. By bringing fine fabrics from around the world to China and introducing Eastern aesthetics to international audiences, the brand demonstrates the resilience and commitment behind collaboration across the supply chain.
Its CIIE presentation also offered a profound expression of culture. EP YAYING brought innovative interpretations of Intangible Cultural Heritage into the pavilion: its signature Eastern Coat collection carried forward the beauty of traditional Chinese dress; its contemporary, ethnic-inspired Blue Label Collection reinterpreted ancient symbols such as the Miao people’s wotuo motif; and its haute couture section offered solutions to contemporary women’s dressing dilemmas for important occasions. Eastern-inspired handbags and lifestyle spaces dedicated to tea and embroidery also brought an elegant Eastern way of life within reach.
At the pavilion’s opening ceremony, EP YAYING joined global brand ambassador Tang Yan to officially launch the “Eastern Coat Co-creation Collection”. Tang Yan said, “Good clothing begins by understanding how a person feels, then brings out their presence. We place Eastern aesthetics at the heart of our designs and combine them with fine materials from around the world. This is what gives Eastern beauty its substance and the brand its confidence.”
Zhang Huaming, Chairman of EP YAYING Fashion Group, said, “The CIIE is a window through which the world can see China, as well as a stage for brands to engage deeply with the global supply chain. EP YAYING will remain rooted in the rich soil of Eastern culture, connecting creativity and craftsmanship from around the world and using fashion to convey a poised, confident Eastern fashion perspective to the world.”
| Information source: Official brand press releases
| Image Credit: Official brand press releases
| Editor: Luxeplace
