Shanghai Street Style With Roy Zhang

By Emily Hoyle, 2013-10

Photographers in fashion capitals around the world, such as London, New York and Paris, have been capturing street style photography for years and, especially thanks to the digitally connected community we live in, it is quickly becoming one of the most influential media in the fashion industry. We met up with Roy Zhang, the talented street style photographer, who is dedicated to capturing and promoting the ever-stylish streets of Shanghai.

Zhang began photographing Shanghai street style two and a half years ago. Like many stories in Shanghai, it was serendipity that Zhang came across the opportunity to be a photographer. Due to his love of fashion and admiration for street style photographers from other cities, he jumped at the chance. Seeing the success of Tommy Ton from Jak & Jil, Scott Schuman, from the Sartorialist, and various other photographers, he felt Shanghai’s street style could be just as successful, yet it was inadequately represented in mainstream world media - especially due to the spending power of the growing fashionable middle class. It would also help to contradict the offensive and stereotypical view that China has no style.

The heritage and international mix in this vibrant city has influenced people’s personal style, and because of this, Zhang is proud to state that Shanghai is the most stylish city in China. Zhang defines Shanghainese style as courageous and confident. When deciding whom to photograph, Zhang is drawn to people with an effortless style; people who have a natural ability to put fashion forward outfits together without being over the top. Like many cities around the world, Shanghai consumers are becoming more and more style conscious and Zhang’s photography documents how personal style has become an everyday consideration. International brands are starting to take notice of this progression in the growing market. This is proved by the Art Of The Trench, the collaboration between Scott Schuman and British luxury brand Burberry, recently exhibiting in Shanghai. The exhibition shows a clear example of how street style influences fashion brands.

Whilst Zhang’s photography highlights that Shanghai is indeed fashionable, he still feels that the city may still be chasing the trends rather than leading the way as cities such as Paris do. However, with the ever-increasing success and awareness of Shanghai Fashion Week, new innovative fashion designers are able to showcase their talents within the city. Zhang expects, as time goes on, that Shanghai’s melting pot of heritage, 

contemporary international fashion and home grown talent will quickly become one of the leading fashion cities of the world. Events such as Shanghai Fashion Week show that, along with passionate individuals like photographer Roy Zhang, designers as well as the stylish city residents, Shanghai is determined to increase international interest in its street style and the fashion industry as a whole.
 
 
Zhang plans to continue to build his website www.theshanghaiexpress.com and increase his following, to create a window into Shanghai street style. You can follow his work on his Tumblr www.royonthestreet.tumblr.com, and Instagram @royonthestreet pages.