Shop and Sip

Xinlelu.com

E-tail is an up-and-coming industry in China, as more companies strive to reach what was until recently an untapped online market. At the forefront of this scene is Shanghai-based online shop XINLELU.COM, which launched in the spring of this year and which, unlike some of its competitors, brings a small, tightly-curated selection of 30 or so brands to its audience – shoppers whose priority isn’t fast fashion, but rather beautiful, quality goods. In its inventory of mostly independent labels, names like Shanghai shoe queen Mary Ching, effortlessly feminine Singapore label Aijek, and Nana & Bird, known for its handcrafted jewellery made from vintage materials, stand out as some of Asia’s style stars.

And though the beauty of the online Xinlelu is that it delivers to all corners of China, it’s still the physical space – the Shanghai showroom tucked away in a stunning courtyard villa in the heart of the French Concession – that is the true draw. It carries the editor’s picks, an expertly-curated selection from the full online stock, and is a great one-stop-shop, especially for its diverse cache of accessories from bags to hats to belts. And in preparation for the oncoming winter months, the showroom garden has just opened a little café, perfect for a pre, post, or even mid-shop tea or hot choc break. Chic!