Qeelin fuses Chinese history with modernity
Qeelin Founder and Creative Director Dennis Chan knows a good thing when he sees it.
In 1997, Chan saw for the first time the Dunhuang caves along the ancient Silk Road and saw creative potential in these Chinese treasures.
By 2004, Qeelin — the jewelry brand that fuses 5,000 years of Chinese heritage with modernity — was born.
Named after the Qilin, a Chinese mythological animal representing good fortune, the brand’s name is neither Chinese nor English, but universal, embodying Qeelin’s mission to foster a yin- yang cultural balance between East and West.
Then, in 2009, while on a business trip to Paris, Chan strolled through the Place Vendome and saw the perfect place for Qeelin.
“This the holy land of international luxury jewelry. I knew we had to be here,” Chan said.
In 2019, Qeelin had a bout i que at Pl ace Vendome, becoming the first Chinese jewelry house to be represented in this prestigious crossroads of l uxury.
From Dunhuang to Paris
Joining Kering Group in 2013 propelled Qeelin onto the international stage.
Today with 40 stores internationally ( 30 in the Chinese mainland), Qeelin has become an alternative to the well- established Western brands and a leading Chinese brand to present precious jewelry at the Place Vendome, the heart of Paris.
Qeelin’s customers mainly comprise modern Chinese women. It’s not a question of age; it’s a matter of attitude. She is a trend- setter, not a trend- follower: independent and confident, with an inner energy combining sophistication and humility.
She is exemplified by the brand’s ambassadors, from Chinese actress Maggie Cheung who wore the Wulu on the red carpet at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, to the latest brand ambassador, Chinese actress Liu Shishi.
Qeelin today is part of the trend of surging self- confidence throughout China, as well as the emergence of the strong modern Chinese woman. And this trend is only beginning.