Not just cheap fakes...

Not so long ago, luxury was seen to be the sole preserve of Europe. Some of the biggest luxury brands like Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Prada have all made much of their provenance.

But with the rise of China, it was inevitable that someone would come up with the idea of the world's first Chinese luxury label. That someone was Hong Kong-based David Tang who launched Shanghai Tang in 1994 to take Chinese luxury to the world.

The label's larger mandate is as stated: "To revitalise Chinese innovation by interweaving it with the dynamism of the 21st century, producing a vibrant and witty take on the fusion concept."

Though the label, in its hurry to wow the world with its aesthetic, suffered