Posts

China Royal Gets Kickstarter Love From All

/in , /by

ChefGarvinChina Royal continues to get and give love via Kickstarter. Whether supporters are in the food industry, the art world, or have worked in fashion for years, China Royal is a stylish fit for them. We get to know more of the brand’s Kickstarter backers and all around supporters.

Chef Gerry Garvin (pictured above) has known Shikiri Hightower-Gaskin for almost 15 years. After being the executive chef for her highly acclaimed Beverly Hills soulfood restaurant Reign, he blazed a career trail filled with household names, including working for the Ritz Carlton, Noa Noa, Morton’s and the Four Seasons Beverly Hills. The three-time author was also recently spotted working his magic at the New York City Wine and Food Festival.

What are some of your favorite items in the China Royal line?
I love the hoodies and the t-shirts. I think it’s all hot. Shikiri’s very good at that.

How would you describe your personal style?
I love a great suit, great shoes, and a nice timepiece. I work out six days a week so I like things to be fitted but not tight. I went to Nobu last night and had on a vest, a skinny Tom Ford tie, and Zegna pants. I’m not very funky though–I wear tees and things on the weekend but I like to travel in style.

What other brands will you mix and match with your China Royal rewards?
I’m a Neiman Marcus fan so I wear their jeans. Seven [For All Mankind] also makes great jeans so I can match those with a China Royal tee and a great Ferragamo shoe. I also have a couple of Paul Stuart slacks at home. I’m not really a fashion guy, and I’m absolutely not a trend follower. If it looks good to me that’s what matters. I just do me.

Screen shot 2013-10-23 at 8.44.07 AMPastor Richard Sherer has known Shikiri Hightower-Gaskin and her husband and business partner Bela for almost two years as members at his church Berith Christian Fellowship. He’s in the midst of organizing a boutique event that his Oakland  church is hosting in November where congregants and the surrounding community can donate one fashion or home item, and take a fashion or home item donated by another member.

How did you become a fan of China Royal?
Bela and Shikiri told me the plan before the line launched. They’re stylish, genuine people and they have a style that I think people would want to wear. Plus I saw their passion and excitement for the line.

How would you describe your personal style?
Business casual. I like suits, ties, hats, the whole nine. But people don’t dress that way now and I like to be comfortable. I have interesting dimensions so all my suits are tailored. I wear jeans all the time, relaxed but not baggy.

What are some trends you might indulge in this fall?
Boots are back in a big way for men, so are jean jackets, even layered with a vest. Where we live we have a few seasons, our temperatures change dramatically so you have to layer. Your look changes throughout the day. I’m interested in that China Royal [men’s] suit for mixing and matching.

Screen shot 2013-10-23 at 8.43.17 AMAzja Pryor–yes, relation to Richard Pryor on her grandfather’s side, is a busy Southern California mom who lives a lifestyle rooted in health and wellness. For her, comfortable clothing that also looks chic is a high priority for her. With a style always infused with Boho-Hippie elements she’s excited to pair her box braids do and stylish ‘tude with great new fashion finds.

Why did you become a China Royal Kickstarter backer?
Shikiri is my girl so I’ll support whatever she’s doing. That was my first inclination. Once I saw the pieces and spoke to her and Bela and saw the passion they had, and the admiration he has for her, it was touching. I saw the hoodie and loved it. I thought it was so fly I wanted to support and I wanted to get some pieces for myself.

What are some of your China Royal favorites?
I love the hoodie–the China Royal symbol on the back! I got a sample of the butterfly dress and wore it to a training in Vegas, I got so many compliments on it.

What’s your favorite look on a guy?
I love a clean looking man, a guy who can put on a button up and tailored pants or a suit with no tie, and I mean really wear that suit. Shoes are really important too, you can tell a lot about a man in his selection of shoes. I hate baggy clothes and I don’t like too tight either, those looks could just die.

What would you love to see next from China Royal?
More shoes, and purses! Accessories, a laptop bag, add-ons to the pieces I already love.

China Royal Toasts An Encore and Successful Fall Launch

/in , /by

A Royal toast backstage before China Royal Encore Fashion Show at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle.The Fourth of July might have ended at the stroke of midnight Friday, but for China Royal and its devoted followers it was a weekend full of celebration.

So in case anyone missed the fireworks Thursday, China Royal delivered on a promise for a show full of sparkle. Back by popular demand, Shikiri Hightower-Gaskin and her grande new cross-cultural clothing brand hosted an encore fashion show. China Royal’s Weekend Wear Fall 2013 line was presented, nightclub style, at the historic Geoffrey’s Inner Circle on Saturday evening.

Shikiri and China Royal Chief Operating Officer Keonnis Taylor-Flores backstage with the models before the show.And because it was a celebration the China Royal team welcomed guests to toast the success of their launch with them. From 7:30 to 8:30 complimentary champagne was provided so guests could make their Fourth of July weekend a China Royal weekend too. At 8 o’clock as young fashion enthusiasts sipped bubbly and talked shop, the Fall 2013 Weekend Wear collection kicked off another must-see runway presentation.

Geoffrey’s hosted its usual Saturday night jam immediately following, packing the place with even more fine gentlemen, and swanky ladies, making it a true fashion forward celebration weekend.

China Royal Raising Funds on Kickstarter

/in , /by

On Friday, June 7, China Royal hosted its Kickstarter Fashion Show to introduce the U.S. to the brand. Hosted by Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson at Art Murmur in Oakland, CA, the fashion show was a success—the brand being widely received by guests. Now, China Royal continues on that vein with its online Kickstarter campaign. Since 2009 Kickstarter has been helping artists, entrepreneurs, and savvy creators fund everything from comic books and films, to art shows and music albums.

See China Royal’s Kickstarter video and donate on the campaign page.

Thanks to crowd-sourcing, China Royal can offer Kickstarter supporters discounted pricing typically reserved for wholesalers. Supporters have early access to select styles from the Fall 2013 line as Kickstarter rewards. If the brand can raise $20,000, it will have the funds to begin production on the Fall 2013 line, including the Kickstarter Rewards. If $40,000 is raised, the entire Fall 2013 and Winter/Spring 2014 collections will go into production. And if China Royal’s Kickstarter supporters help raise more than $40,000, the brand will be able to launch an e-commerce platform at ShopChinaRoyal.com, so China Royal customers can shop the brand anytime, anywhere.

At China Royal diversity is celebrated, blending a hip-hop vibe with a luxury aesthetic. The buzz began to truly grow when China Royal made its Chinese New Year debut at the MAGIC fashion tradeshow in Las Vegas. Supporters and lovers of the brand’s Weekend Wear can extend that sentiment via the Kickstarter campaign, which has a bevy of rewards for early backers.

Kickstarter funders get the reward of wholesale versus retail prices for a limited time, which is about a 60% savings overall. That means campaign funders not only get their hands on the freshest China Royal gear before anyone else; they get a better deal than anyone else. It’s a total score for the consumers and for the brand, which is pleased to have the Kickstarter community donning its threads.

In the first few days, China Royal has raised $761 of its $20,000 goal. There’s still a long way to go. And with only 26 days left to make goal (and then some) the team is really pushing rewards incentives for early backers. Besides a bevy of China Royal goodies, and a mention in the Brand’s supporter honor roll, Kickstarter supporters get to be a part of the beginnings of a cool, diverse, multicultural brand. There are 26 days left to get in on the action, as China Royal works to move towards its $20K goal by July 8.