William the BeeKeeper, a Kaileeni Boutique
84 Fenyang Road 汾阳路84号 x Fuxing Road复兴路, Shanghai上海
About
The Dirt: Shanghai, China's most dynamic and cosmopolitan city, is developing at a breakneck pace, and its fashion industry is no exception. But in a land where the Mao suit was mandatory while women around the world were mod, it's no surprise that the average Chinese person walking down the street hardly resembles international cat walks. Enter Kaileeni, an apparel brand based in Shanghai and founded by California native Cairn Wu Reppun. Wanting to educate an eager Chinese public about contemporary American style and vintage appeal, Kaileeni, Cairn's childhood nickname, brings a modern look to Shanghai in an area that is typically characterized by frilly decorations and overly-embellished ensembles. Kaileeni's Flagship boutique is in central downtown Shanghai and named William the Beekeeper – a concept store that houses Kaileeni originals, one of kind vintage pieces, books and home grown organic honey, flown in from Hawaii. The Beekeeper, as the shop is commonly known, is also a reflection of the homey, vintage inspiration behind much of Kaileeni. An old guitar rests in the corner, while a worn ladder is the display case for accessories. Well-thumbed books are stacked in a wall enclave while other displays rest on or in reclaimed furniture. Racks of of vintage and consignment pieces share the space with Kaileeni. And, if you're lucky, you might get to meet Cairn's chow Curry, who has a knack for sniffing out Californians. The BeeKeeper understands that even shopping here is a learning experience for the locals who are more accustomed to gigantic supermalls or white-walled shops with massive racks of disorganized clothing. Customers are sometimes confused about how to wear a certain piece or pair it with other items; but the most common issue is that, to the locals, many who have family members that lived through times of harshness and want, the idea of buying something used when new is available simply doesn't make sense. With this challenge in tow the Kaileeni crew is determined to broaden the local viewpoint through The Beekeper. The Goods: The Kaileeni line features dresses, skirts, shorts, trousers, tops, blazers, jackets and clutches; for preferred clients Kaileeni also creates one-off pieces at their atelier in Shanghai's former French Concession. The Blog: As part of their mission, Kaileeni and company also run the blog VainLane.com, whose tag line, Imparting Fashion Knowledge, says it all. Their main contributor, fashion writer Kate Ryge, has a snappy, sharp and often humorous take on Shanghai street fashion, along with others from around the world. Snapping photos of folks on the street or borrowing from other sites, each post on VainLane attempts to break down the wearer's outfit to discuss its successes and failures in an unpretentious voice.
