by Anna Lazzaron
On a global stage, HC28 maison revealed its most ambitious exhibition yet, proving to the world what Chinese design companies have to offer.
Against the backdrop of the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai, where the 56th China International Furniture Fair (CIFF) drew thousands of visitors in September, HC28 Maison presented its new exhibition. “The Mirror of Emotions” marks a turning point for the brand, which for the first time consolidates the full spectrum of its lines under a unified name, speaking with a single common voice.
Founded in 2007 by Li Jianwei after eight formative years in France, HC28 Maison has always been in the middle of two worlds: its name stands for “Home Creation”, the number refers to the company’s location being 28 kilometres from Beijing’s Forbidden City, while “maison” gives it that French flair, in reference to Jianwei’s background and the brand’s European-leaning design language.
Gallery
Open full width
LIAN sofa system © HC28 maison
AROUND dining table © HC28 maison
JOURNEY lounge chair © HC28 maison
CIFF exhibition © HC28 maison
CIFF exhibition © HC28 maison
CIFF exhibition © HC28 maison
Open full width
The 2025 collection features collaborations with some of the world’s most renowned designers: Yabu Pushelberg, Marcel Wanders, Pearson Lloyd, Christophe Delcourt, Christian Werner, Christian Haas, and Frank Chou. For the first three creatives, it is their first time working with the company, leading this year with new products and fresh visions.
Yabu Pushelberg is a New York and Toronto-based studio founded by George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg in 1980, making its debut now with HC28 maison after decades of working in the Chinese market. Their pieces for the brand reflect what Yabu describes as China’s design evolution: “Having worked in China for over 30 years, we’ve watched the shift that’s happening in the design conversation in the region: it’s no longer about looking outward, they are leading from within.”
Marcel Wanders, the Dutch design maverick, brings his characteristically poetic approach to the company. Wanders is known for his eccentric and passionate attitude as a designer, which stands in a curious and complementary balance with Pearson Lloyd‘s approach, which instead believes in a user-centred philosophy, stating that “our role as designers is to listen to the world for opportunities to improve lives.”
JOURNEY lounge chair © HC28 maison
The CIFF exhibition also featured work from Chinese architect Ma Yansong, who created a large-scale mirrored installation, exploring light, space, and human interaction. The piece hangs in the middle of the room, acting not only as a beautiful ornament but also as a metaphor about the conversation that the exhibition is having about contemporary living.
This show solidified the company’s ambition to go beyond its origins and become a truly global design brand. They now collaborate with almost 50 international designers and have an established distribution network across 14 countries, creating a model for how Chinese brands can engage with international design as equals, producing work that speaks to universal aesthetics while remaining rooted in Chinese manufacturing.
CIFF exhibition © HC28 Maison
“This exhibition is not about defining design or drawing conclusions on future lifestyles, but about embracing limitless possibilities”, the brand stated. As China’s luxury industry is experiencing a renaissance, after being dormant for decades following its socialist market economy, we can perceive a renewed sense of cultural confidence. So as they themselves declare, “with its shift from standalone pieces to full integration, HC28 Maison is writing a new global narrative for Chinese design.”
