A lifestyle brand inspired by Shanghai’s unique charm and culture
Originally from Scotland, Sarah Armstrong moved to Shanghai for a design opportunity with an emerging Chinese brand. Inspired by Shanghai’s unique charm and culture, she founded Pinyin Press, a lifestyle brand celebrating local culture through hand drawn illustrations and quality craftsmanship.
Q: Before we talk about your brand Pinyin Press, would you please introduce yourself?
I grew up in Scotland and was brought up in a family-run business which was a lifestyle rather than a 9-to-5. My parents encouraged me to follow a path I was passionate about, which was initially design. Pursuing entrepreneurship was a natural progression thereafter.
I graduated in Textile Design from Central Saint Martins and moved to Shanghai for an opportunity with an emerging Chinese brand. I’ve since had experience designing for childrenswear, womenswear, fashion accessories, footwear and interiors for both domestic and international brands.
Q: Why, after living in Shanghai for a few years, did you decide to strike out on your own to build your own company?
Having gained prior experience of design and production while working for other companies, I felt at the time that I had some of the necessary skills to start my own business.
I was keen to explore the design concept that I had in mind for Pinyin Press and start my own independent business.
Q: What makes Shanghai’s business environment so remarkable?
I find people in Shanghai to be collaborative, supportive and open to great opportunities for business. I’m especially appreciative of my early loyal customers in Shanghai and the support of the local community.
Q: What were you trying to bring to the local community?
When I was looking for gifts to send to friends and family, I realized there was an opportunity in the marketplace for designs which people would connect with and which would tell a story of everyday life in China.
I also wanted to create products and gifts which were at an accessible price point and available to all.
Part of this story is also told through the brand name, “Pinyin Press.” Zhou Youguang invented Pinyin in the late 1950s and described it as “a bridge between China and the rest of the world.”
For foreigners living in China, Zhou offered a simple piece of wisdom, “Do something to help bridge understanding between China’s ancient civilization and the modern world.” A large part of the inspiration behind Pinyin Press designs is to tell my story of life in China and to help to connect others to the culture.
Q: What are the biggest challenges setting up a business here? How do you stay motivated?
There have been different challenges at different stages of growing my business and I also feel that many challenges are not unique to China. When I initially set up my company, I took every opportunity possible and worked relentlessly to try to reach the targets I was aiming for.
Through COVID, the business model adapted, and as life of postCOVID continues to evolve, this is something that I think will continue to adapt and develop. Within the dayto-day, sourcing high-quality and reliable suppliers for products takes time and patience, and is something I continually strive for.
I’ve always been a motivated and driven person. However, I make more time for myself now which I didn’t previously do. I’ve found that investing in other aspects of my life has greatly benefited my work.
Q: What was the moment that made you most proud?
In 2021, Pinyin Press collaborated on a co-branded capsule collection with Chinese fashion brand SEMIR. It was a huge honor to design an exclusive collection in partnership with their company and to share our design aesthetic with a wider audience.
Editor’s note:
The road to being a successful female entrepreneur — be it a restaurant owner, a designer, a gallery owner or a retailer — can be bumpy. In this series, we talk to women from different countries and backgrounds about their experiences and stories of setting up businesses in Shanghai. One thing these amazing women all have in common — they all yearn to build a brand that does good, that gives purpose and fulfillment, and even a palpable sense of joy.
Q: What are you working on?
I’m usually working on four or five different products at a time. Some of these involve new illustrative print designs, whereas others may be a new product line featuring an existing popular print pattern design.
Q: Who is a female role model that inspires you?
I like following the business journeys of various female entrepreneurs, especially those with similar businesses and who explain the often challenging trajectories which led to where they are today.
Reading what I feel are “realistic” journeys is often inspiring and encouraging.
Q: Do you have any advice for women entrepreneurs?
Prepare a business plan and dream big. Be practical and be able to adapt quickly to change. Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends and businesspeople. Consider finding a mentor.
Work hard and ask for support and advice. Continue personal development, education and learning.
The Liuhe Pagoda ceremony marked the beginning of the New Year’s festivities in Hangzhou. On January 1, people customarily struck the large bell six times to pray for a bountiful crop and good fortune.
In Chinese philosophy, the six strikes represent six different types of bliss: tianhe ( ), dihe ( ), renhe ( ), jiahe ( ), yehe ( ), and shenhe ( ), which encompass well wishes in every way.
This year’s commemoration, which runs through February 16, has as its theme “ ,” which translates as “one should cherish the cultures of others.”
The organizers aim to encourage the younger generation to participate in festive traditions by offering a plethora of activities that explore the cultural heritage of Liuhe Pagoda.
The Chinese New Year customs often involve writing the character “ ” on a red square piece of paper, and Liuhe Pagoda’s celebration is no different. Furthermore, dancers dressed in traditional garb present “General Liuhe,” a performance that extols the pagoda’s past.
In 2019, Miu Jingwen, a 20-year pagoda employee and commentator, wrote the song. Because of her wealth of experience and understanding of the pagoda, she worked with a local orchestra to create the music.
Red lanterns, symbolic of the Chinese New Year, now adorn the Liuhe Pagoda Cultural Park. Visitors are encouraged to participate in the activities on site and gather seal stamps to redeem gifts.
There’s also an exhibition about the pagoda’s architecture, history and archeological discoveries.
Liuhe is a Chinese philosophical term meaning “six harmonies.” The 13-story pagoda, made of brick and wood, is adorned with delicate patterns of flowers, creatures and Buddhist tales. Visitors can reach the roof via a spiral staircase that connects the odd-numbered floors.
The pagoda is located alongside the Qiantang River, which is home to the world’s largest tidal bore. As the tide surges into the river mouth from Hangzhou Bay, the waves reach a height of 5 meters.
The strong waves were a problem for people in ancient times. Until the Wuyue Kingdom achieved a breakthrough during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (AD 907979), the flooding continued. Building the “great seawall” between the city and the water was Emperor Qianliu’s wise investment that turned Hangzhou into a thriving metropolis.
Qianliu also presided over the construction of the Liuhe Pagoda, which was supposed to “calm” the tidal bores. The royal court held rituals to worship the god of tides, seeking divine intervention in harnessing the tides.
Often referred to as the god of tides, Wu Zixu was an upright and wise general and politician in the State of Wu (modern-day Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, along with Shanghai) during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC).
Wu dug rivers and constructed dams, earning him the nickname “the tide’s incarnation.”
The royal family, imperial officials and the populace would assemble at Liuhe Pagoda on the 18th day of the eighth lunar month to worship Wu, a tradition that started during the Song Dynasty (960–1279).
Today, an exhibition introducing the natural phenomenon will take place in September and October as part of the ritual.
The pagoda is also a garden to linger over flowers as well as a place to offer prayers. Dating back to the Wuyue Kingdom, it was established as a royal court that was dedicated to cultivating peonies.
Hangzhou celebrated the ancient Huazhao Festival with flower-themed celebrations when it became the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279).
The event, which falls on the 12th day of the second lunar month, honors the birthday of the flower goddess.
In the past, families would go on outings to enjoy the flowers on the most vibrant day of the year. One of the highlights of the yearly flower festival was the blooming peonies at the Liuhe Pagoda.
Liuhe Pagoda Cultural Park Admission: 20 yuan (US$2.8) Address: 16 Zhijiang Rd