Shanghai Street Style With Roy Zhang
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.