In early September, we journeyed to CIFF Shanghai 2023 in search of the latest developments and advancements in the Chinese market. Among them, HC28 has an evident presence, both nationally with over one hundred monobrand stores and worldwide due to their inclusive product range, collaborations, and communication initiatives. To quote the brand, they aspire to bring a gracious, contemporary, and poetic way of living by merging Oriental culture with international avant-garde design. So far, the brand has earned a large number of awards, such as multiple Red Dot Design Awards, the latest one for the Origami modular sofa designed by Hanne Willmann. Their esteemed collaborations involve designers as varied as Francois Champsaur, Christophe Delcourt, Frank Chou, Masayuki Kurokawa, Yonoh, and Sebastian Herkner.
HC28: a glimpse into the Brand’s history
What is the origin of the company name “HC28”? HC stands for Home Collection, acknowledging its priority of providing high-quality home furnishings. This is paired with the number 28, which is a reference to the first factory, located 28 kilometers from the Forbidden City. After completing his study abroad in France, HC28 founder Li Jianwei returned to China and started working for various French furniture brands. This experience provided him with first-hand knowledge of operating a high-end brand in China’s market.
In 2006, seeing the surge of globalization and customers’ favor for French, Italian and American design styles, Li Jianwei created HC28, the first contemporary high-end furniture brand in China. He hired internationally acclaimed designers to design HC28’s collections. They are characterized by delicate lines, exquisite detailing, diverse materials, and a rich color pallet. This enables HC28 customers to identify and pursue their personal style with courage and bravery. In 2018, an entirely new line of furniture – HC28 Cosmo – was launched, providing luxurious designs suited for cosmopolitan lifestyles.
HC28 Cosmo at CIFF 2023
At the Shanghai edition of China International Furniture Fair, HC28 Cosmo displayed unique products to an eager audience. Their booth design encapsulated futurism, innovation, and creativity, enclosed in an all-white ‘box’. The window display was a magnificent homage to space travel, exhibiting their products in an interactive laboratory. Richard Meier’s sentiment, “White is the most wonderful color of all. Because within it one can find every color of the rainbow”, perfectly applied to the concept. HC28 Cosmo also embraced the field of Artificial Intelligence, in partnership with Studio Roderick Vos.
The resultant gift, the TWISTY armchair, was captivating. With its helical shape, this symbol of boundless data and endless prospects for the future was warmly welcomed at CIFF. Additionally, HC28 unequivocally impressed visitors with other products like the ROOT armchair developed by Frank Chou. Uniting fashion with nature, and the BALLET dining table design by Gary Zeng, a union of strength and lightness.
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