My Shanghai, an Urban Family series where we ask a Shanghai-based somebody to tell us about their life.
Following years of working in the corporate arena, Charlotta Gandolfo drew inspiration from her own travel experiences and the close friends she is surrounded by, to create her eponymous line of resort wear. When her first collection sold out during the launch event earlier this year, it created a buzz around this new Scandinavian resort wear designer. So it's not surprising that anticipation is growing for what's to come in the future, with an assumption that all women will want to pack her designs as they head off on their next adventure. As Charlotta so perfectly phrased, “We have friends everywhere and feel at ease anywhere,” and I am sure this has everything to do with her positive approach to life, reflected in the confidence of her designs, which she wears so well.
When did you launch your business and what was the inspiration?
My brand Charlotta Gandolfo undertook a soft-launch on September 1 this year. My inspiration was to create a ‘go-to’ brand for global citizens to know they will look chic and feel good when traveling, and also at home.
Shanghai is a city of travelers. A destination wedding, trip with friends or a family get-away, all demand multiple outfits – there are breakfasts, lunches, sight-seeing, beach-hangouts, pool parties and spontaneous dinners that happen when social people travel. I want my customers to feel secure and confident in what they are wearing, so they can focus on creating positive energy and enjoying themselves. The alternatives in the market seemed to be pineapple prints on polyester, or the insanely expensive cruise collections from very high-end designer brands, so I believe my line can provide another choice.
How would you describe your designs?
My designs are created using a simple equation that I always keep in mind - Simplicity plus Comfort, leaving a little to the Imagination.
Simplicity doesn’t mean simple. It is about conscious choices and consistency; a few colors or prints with constructions that emphasize the beauty of these choices.
Comfort is important and often ignored. You can only be chic and stylish when you feel comfortable, relaxed and confident. I use natural and luxurious materials that breathe and feel soft against your skin, with a lot of flexibility is the fabrics. When socializing, you’re at your best when relaxed and not concerned with the fit or style of your clothes, I want my customers to experience an effortless inner and outer elegance when wearing my designs.
Imagination is about what might be, but is not spelled out. I want the women who wear my clothes to feel feminine, graceful and sexy, in a tasteful way. Showing a bit of skin is gorgeous, but there is nothing sexier than imagination!
The concept of 'resort wear' turned out to be the best type of designs to transform my dream into a reality – light flowing fabrics, and an elasticity that gives the wearer a sense of freedom. My styles are appropriate for any occasion (except perhaps in a corporate office with a strict dress code), so I feel the result goes way beyond resorts.
Recently, a celebrity was wearing the ‘Regina Dress’ for a red-carpet event here in Shanghai, and I wore my long golden ‘Flower Tunic’ to a charity dinner a few days ago, where the dress code was formal. I have also seen a lot of Shanghai’s social girls wearing my designs for casual coffees as well as nights on the town clubbing, the range is that flexible in how it can be worn.
I believe staying true to this equation delivers – and it’s my goal to move beyond resorts and ‘resortify’ the world into daily chic through simplicity, comfort and imagination!
What influences your designs and what’s new for the upcoming season?
I’m a Nordic resort wear designer, which some might say is an oxymoron. I’m a Scandinavian who has traveled the world and lived on three continents, and the unique perspective generated from my travels and heritage has contributed to the success of my clothing line. My designs are a combination of influences from India, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa, the Caribbean and more – but despite this, the underpinning characteristic is a minimalist approach, which is a result of my Nordic heritage. This is how a tunic dress covered in golden flowers won’t look ethnic nor over the top, it’s simply ‘chic.'
My biggest influences are my own travels and heritage, as well as and my friends who are, from the inside out, beautiful women. They travel the world, juggle successful careers with a family and are always well-presented, radiating positive energy. They are both Chinese and foreigners, but honestly it doesn’t matter where they are coming from, it’s more about where they are going.
This winter in my collection, you will see more waistlines, some golden-age glamour and a lot of mix-and-match white silk items that will form the best base for looking chic when traveling, in a resort or at home.
You have a young daughter; how do you balance family and work commitments?
Running my own business allows for flexibility in terms of my time and I utilize that freedom to the utmost. Am I completely successful? Of course not. If anyone figures out how to do this well, please call me.
What is your career background?
I have a long professional background as a senior executive in a large global corporate.
What has been your most challenging experience when launching a business in Shanghai?
I have difficulties getting the basics done and am in need of a bilingual assistant! (Yes, this is an ad!)
Where do you turn for business advice? What is the best advice you have for other mothers looking to start a business in Shanghai?
This is a new industry for me, so I talk to anyone who works in fashion who is happy to spare the time and share their experiences, then it’s my job to use that information and make it work for me. My advice to mothers, fathers or anyone without children who wants to start a business in Shanghai is to prioritize speed over perfection. The city changes so fast that by the time you have perfected your plan, it might not be valid anymore.
Where can our Urban Family Shanghai community purchase your brand?
My line is currently in stock at selected high-end resorts in and outside of China, and I sell online through my official WeChat account along with my international website Charlotta Gandolfo.
In Shanghai, you can find my brand in the retail store Zurita, 247 Wulumuqi Lu (close to Wuyuan Lu, opposite Avocado Lady) and later this winter, it will also be available at the boutique Xinle Lu on Shanxi Bei Lu (Close to Beijing Lu).
Follow the offical Charlotta Gandolfo account or get in touch with Charlotta directly, she would love to hear from you!
[Photography via Shirley Cheung]
For more My Shanghai series, click here.
