Shanghai Tang was founded by the late socialite & magnate Sir David Tang in 1994. At launch, Sir David Tang spent HKD 120 million to open the first Shanghai Tang flagship store in Central, Hong Kong and invited renowned international celebrity Gong Li to be its first brand ambassador. Shanghai Tang would soon be recognised by the fashion industry as China's first luxury brand.

Over the years, Shanghai Tang continues moving forward by celebrating and shaping contemporary Chinese culture and art. The brand merges storied traditions with the latest design in its products and culture, seamlessly integrating them into modern society and current times. Through its Imperial Tailoring collection, ready-to-wear, accessories, home decor, and collaborations with artists and designers, Shanghai Tang is committed to presenting the exquisite lifestyle of the East.

Founded in 1994 as a bespoke tailor in the iconic Pedder Building in Hong Kong, Shanghai Tang was inspired by the glamour and glory of the Shanghai Bund in the 1930s, a vibrant era during which this renowned entertainment playground was the melting pot for culture, fashion, architecture, commerce and art.

The name of the brand is a play on words that takes the English transcription of the Shanghai Bund (上海滩 – Shang-hai-tan) and humorously connects the sound of the words with the name of the late founder, Sir David Tang, who developed a phenomenal celebrity following including Princess Diana, actresses Gong Li and Nicole Kidman, top models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss.

As a proudly ‘Created by Chinese’ brand, we deliver to the global audience a disruptive and modern take on Chinese culture, aesthetics and craftsmanship.

Shanghai Tang offers a wide range of lifestyle collections steeped in heritage, including iconic products such as Tang jackets, cashmere cardigans with silk lining, silk pyjamas, knot clutches, scarves and foulards, Chinese gemstone jewellery, lacquer boxes and the signature Ginger Flower home fragrance.

Our first unique concept store took up residence in the iconic Pedder Building in Central, Hong Kong, the last existing pre-war building in the area and a declared ‘Grade II Historic Building’ due to its cultural heritage significance.

The legendary store exuded an aura reminiscent of the old Shanghainese tailor shops and featured beautiful Art Deco design and furniture, including reproductions of two stained-glass panels from Shanghai’s famous luxury hotel of the 1930s, the Cathay Hotel.

Shanghai Tang opens boutiques in Shanghai and Beijing.

Opening of the 1881 Heritage boutique in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. It is the largest flagship store on Kowloon peninsula.

The new flagship boutique ‘Shanghai Tang Mansion’ opened its doors on the historic Duddell Street in Central, Hong Kong. Spanning 3 storeys and the brand’s largest store globally, the Duddell flagship marked a new era in Shanghai Tang’s legacy. The iconic façade is a modern tribute to the opulent mansions in the Art Deco style of 1930s Shanghai, crafted from etched glass and brass.

Shanghai Tang celebrated its 20th anniversary with a spectacular Spring/Summer 2015 ‘China Fashion Chic’ show in Shanghai. Hollywood and Chinese celebrities together with international fashion figures came out in force for the event, including Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman.

Shanghai Tang goes BACK TO THE ROOTS with a new management team headquartered in Hong Kong, and a new Creative Team helmed by newly appointed Creative Director Victoria Tang-Owen.

The daughter of the late founder Sir David Tang, Victoria brings a fresh vision on board while staying true to Shanghai Tang’s much-revered heritage, leveraging the brand’s modern and ground-breaking approach to Chinese tradition.

Shanghai Tang celebrates 25 years of heritage with a series of exciting initiatives, including an unprecedented collaboration with internationally acclaimed Chinese artist Xu Bing.

The foundation upon which the house of Shanghai Tang is built, our five pillars capture the true essence, spirit and DNA of the brand.

Our brand is proudly ‘created by Chinese’ with a stated mission of creating and curating modern Chinese chic.

We create modern, wearable, sophisticated collections steeped in Chinese heritage, craftsmanship and aesthetics.

We highlight modern, disruptive interpretations of classics and we believe in the power of storytelling to provoke conversations and raise smiles in our audience.

We are nonconformists and we love having fun! Our vibrant and unique style is always served with a dash of humour, wit and irreverence.

We represent a versatile and sartorial lifestyle concept. Our products are designed to complement the daily rituals of our customers and to enhance their experience both at home and on the go.

The famous Shanghai Tang logo tells a story of the brand, from its design, font, to the use of rich and vibrant colours that are quintessentially Shanghai Tang.

Our iconic first logo – distinguished by bold, stylised Chinese characters 上海滩 in yellow and pink, along with the English brand name ‘SHANGHAI TANG’ on a ribbon banner surrounded by yellow 5-point stars – welcomed customers at the doorsteps of Pedder Building.

The logo features the Shanghai Tang brand name in Chinese, written and read from right to left – 滩海上, as is traditionally done in Chinese text. The change of text direction from left to right was widely believed to have happened in 1955, when one of the major newspapers in China initiated this change in their layout to adapt to the global trend and modern lifestyle. Our Chinese logo, however, remains unchanged as a tribute to our roots and heritage.

On a journey through the Shanghai Tang archive, our Creative Director Victoria Tang-Owen discovered this authentic motif featuring the Chinese brand name emblazoned on 90s era silver dinnerware.⁠ In celebration of 25 years of heritage, this iconic Shanghai Tang Motif was revived in 2019 and reimagined across a range of ready-to-wear, accessories and lifestyle products.