By: Kai Yeo
Outstanding quality, unique designs, and an affordable price tag – our shoe choice for this season has got to be Chinese Laundry. With groundbreaking styles season after season, it is no surprise that this brand is also celebrity approved – Blake Lively and Miley Cyrus among the list – featuring trendy designs as well as refined classics perfect to transition from day to night. On Wednesday, we got to preview the new Chinese Laundry summer and fall collections at JuneShine, paired with hard kombucha and a floral arrangement session.
With the cutest balloon arch entrance set up, we were welcomed with hard kombucha and charcuterie boards along with the prettiest decorations. As I arrived ahead of time (in my Summer Rayva Sandals), I got the opportunity to mingle with the team and talk more about the current summer launch and upcoming fall collection, a mix of styles and trends ideal for today’s fashion-forward landscape.
If you’re new to Chinese Laundry, they have been in the shoes business since 1971. Growing to become a globally recognized fashion footwear distributor, the brand has now expanded into a family of four unique brands:
- Chinese Laundry – Styles range from dress heels to casual flats, all designed to meet the season’s most desired trends
- Dirty Laundry – Designed with edge in Los Angeles. Dirty Laundry is casual and vintage-inspired, with a twist of California rocker-cool. Iconic designs and bold silhouettes embody the brand’s timeless collection.
- CL By Laundry – Responds to trends in the market and translates designs into affordable, easy-to-wear styles. The collection transitions seamlessly from work, weekend, and everything in between.
- 42 Gold – Destined to elevate any look for the busy on-the-go woman. Indulge in luxury inspired designs without breaking the budget. Quality craftsmanship and versatile silhouettes are designed to meet the needs of a modern lifestyle. Jamie Chung collaborated with them in 2019 for a 12-piece shoe collection launch.
In the mini preview we saw, Chinese Laundry has proven to us yet again that their style is on point. Their new collection of shoes ranges from classic formal to trendy, offering a great array of styles. With so many options to choose from, you’ll be sure to find something you love for the next season! As more guests started to trickle in, we decided to look around the space and found the entire backroom filled with a gorgeous array of flowers – aided by florist Tess, we even got to make our own special denim bouquet.
With so many conversations and activities going on, it was time for some food and a second glass of kombucha. JuneShine is an all-natural, organic, gluten-free hard kombucha made from green tea and honey. The primary fermentation is done by pitching yeast and honey to create a probiotic kombucha, and more yeast and cane sugar is added during the secondary fermentation (which brings the kombucha to 6% alcohol). If the alcohol percentage is a little overwhelming for anyone, JuneShine also offers flights of three which allows you to get a little sampler of everything. They also serve good empanadas (chicken, beef, and caprese) and a really mean vegan pizza haute pocket. While there are no meal options, eating a couple of those empanadas will have you fuller than you expect!
By the end of the Summer Launch Party with Chinese Laundry, we had our bellies filled and hands busy with flowers, kombucha, shoes, and even a little gift bag filled with local and sustainable goodies such as stainless steel drinking straws and my personal favorite – Lotus and Luna bracelets. Discovering that Lotus and Luna takes pride in making accessories and committed to helping their Thai artisans escape the cycle of poverty by providing them a proper wage and housing made the gift bag from Chinese Laundry very special.
Knowing that Chinese Laundry is not just a one-stop shop for vegan and fashionable footwear but that they also support small socially responsible brands has just increased our love for this brand, and we can’t wait to style our new shoes!
Highlights: Grapefruit Paloma Kombucha, Chicken Empanadas, flower bouquets wrapped with sustainable denim, and of course, shoes!
About the Author:
Kai Yeo is from Singapore and has traveled on various occasions to Thailand since she grew up in the area.
