If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives): shanghai tang

... and that's without your having to blow up the thousands of balloons used in the catalog.

Every year retail companies scramble together around mid-june to start concepting and designing catalogs for the holiday season. It's hard to keep them fresh, original and memorable. But Shanghai Tang, the chinese lifetyle brand, has done it yet again.

Teaming up with Chandelier Creative, the cutting edge design firm (who has produced other fabulous holiday catalogs for them in the past) they've produce a 2009 holiday catalogue inspired by the whimsical world of balloon art. It's amazing what they've done in terms of styling stunning backgrounds and unusual product shots, photographed by talented product photographer Kanji Ishii, with simple colored balloons.

These are not all the images from the actual catalog, nor are they in order, but these are my favorites and I think you'll find them inspiring:

In addition to a beautiful catalog, Shanghai Tang's gifts are equally as fabulous, shop for them here.

To see other impressive balloon art and design, check these out:

A Photographer Who Is Full Of Hot Air: Paul Graves' Balloon Sculpture Series
Paul Graves' Newest Work - Balloon Expletives & More

What do hip designers Philippe Starck, Kate Spade, Lulu Guiness, Burberry, Shanghai Tang and Lacoste all have in common? They all design strollers, buggies, and more products for baby in collaboration with Maclaren.

Maclaren has consistently created revolutionary technology for baby strollers, buggies and prams and despite the loss of their founder, Owen Maclaren, continue to do so. In addition to their own nicely designed products, they have several collaborations with the aforementioned designers.

Philippe Starck for Maclaren:

Kate Spade for Maclaren:

Lulu Guiness for Maclaren:

Burberry for Maclaren:

Lacoste for Maclaren:

Shanghai Tang for Maclaren:

Maclaren's own Leather Collection:

Maclaren's special edition real gold plated black leather stroller :

Above: The Special Edition Maclaren GB type Au gold buggy is sold in fine retailers around the world.Only 20 supple black leather buggies with contrasting gold-coloured stitching are available with luxurious features.

They also carry a line of "junior" sized baby equipment for children to play with:

About Maclaren:
It all began in 1965 when Owen Maclaren designed and patented his prototype Baby Buggy -- the B-01. The iconic blue and white stripes and aluminium frame imparts a vintage style that is popular and modern today. The revolutionary lightweight, 3D fold design continues to be an important and timeless prototype for the industry.

above: Founder Owen Maclaren

A former test pilot and aeronautical designer Owen Maclaren, created the iconic B01 buggy in the converted stables of his restored medieval farmhouse, Arnold House, in the village of Barby, Northamptonshire in England in 1967.

Based on Maclaren's knowledge as a retired aeronautical engineer and grandfather, the buggy had to be durable, safe, and lightweight. With a combination of modern materials like tubular aluminum, a durable structure that comfortably carries even a fairly large child, and 3D folding mechanism, the buggy weighed just 3kg/6lbs and fit into the same amount of space as an umbrella. The revolutionary design liberated parents from the bulky pram and quickly became an object of design and desire.

Above and below: So revolutionary was the design, that the buggy is included in Phaidon's Volume one of Design Classics:

Today’s Maclaren Buggys are descendants of the B-01 – from the lightweight frame, durable fabric, and one-hand fold -- to the above-industry standard safety features and innovative style.

Maclaren Baby
US locations:
Maclaren Showroom SoHo
150 Wooster
New York, NY10012-3112
P: 212-677-2700

Maclaren Showroom SoNo
10 Marshall Street
South Norwalk
Connecticut 06854