Symbol of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel group, the fan has been reinvented by the famed fashion designer Vivienne Tam. It will be the signature item of the future Guangzhou property.
HONG KONG– Vivienne Tam, the world celebrated fashion designer and one of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s celebrity “fans,” has created a signature fan to convey the uniqueness and personality of the soon-to-open Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou.
A profoundly meaningful symbol of the Group’s oriental culture, the well-recognized, classically simple and visually elegant, eleven-bladed fan logo, ties together each of the Group’s hotels into the single identity of the luxury hotel group. In addition to the registered trademark logo for the Group, all Mandarin Oriental hotels are encouraged to find their own unique fan to reflect the individuality of their property. Each hotel’s fan is sensitively linked to the environment in which it resides, taking into account the exclusive attributes of the culture in each location.
As a native of Guangzhou, Tam has a strong emotional attachment to the city. She is deeply inspired by the fact that Guangzhou was the earliest Chinese trading port to the West and has, therefore, created a fan that symbolizes Guangzhou’s abundant and diversified offerings – from past to present.
The artistic design cleverly combines a Chinese opera mask with a geometric pattern and a floral motif which reflects Guangzhou’s reputation as a “flower city.” These elements, created in a range of vibrant colours, reflect Guangzhou’s characteristics: a fast-paced, modern and contemporary city with a vibrant local culture.
The fan is totally unique, says Tam, given that she sourced the original design elements from her own fabric collection. She added that the opportunity to design a fan for Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou reflected the similar traits of Mandarin Oriental and herself. “We are both perfectionists who continuously strive to be the best.”
Tam went on to add: “As a fan of Mandarin Oriental, I have no doubt that Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou will deliver the Group’s legendary service to delight its guests. I am proud to design this fan for Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou because I feel like I am part of the Mandarin Oriental family.”
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
