The brainchild of Lane Crawford’s former visual merchandiser, Paul Cheng’s Aura is, as is to be expected, beautifully presented. Situated inside the Workers’ Stadium, this isn’t the sort of place you just ‘drop by’ – it’s for a specific clientele with a clear aesthetic (and budget) in mind.
The idea behind Aura is to provide an alternative to the lack of independent menswear stores in Beijing. Although Cheng initially wanted to feature both American and European designers, half the store now comprises Japanese brands, including Discovered, Ekam and the cult label Banal Chic Bizarre. The latter injects Day-Glo, see-through panels, tweed and camouflage prints into designs that start from 1,600RMB each. Joe Bloggs might disregard it as overpriced nonsense, but purists will argue otherwise.
Mountain Research, another Japanese brand, is much more accessible and includes puffa vests and shirts (from 2,000RMB). Stratoapparel is the cashmere brand from Cheng’s partner, Kelly Li, a recent graduate from the Raffles Design Institute. It includes quirky jumper dresses, ponchos and leggings in shades of grey, cream and red, all starting from 1,000RMB.
Other highlights include Paris-based designer Isaac Reina, who is the man behind much of Hermès’s and Margiela’s accessories. His latest line is influenced by industrial packaging and origami. Also worth checking out is Aura’s mini art exhibition, which will change twice a season and is currently showing Arman Lim’s ‘Hygieia Series’, a collection of busts made from medical capsules. Cheng also intends to open a café inside Aura soon, so be sure to keep an eye out. Alice McInerney