China's furniture industry embraces independent designer brands

German designer Christoph John(R), Chinese designer Zhang Lei(C), and Serbian designer Jovana Zhang pose with their works, three chairs made of different materials, in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 28, 2017. Christoph works for Pinwu, an interior design brand established in 2005. China's furniture industry is embracing a new wave of independent designer brands, especially in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. The new generation of designers attaches more importance on the contemporary expression of Chinese elements, adding creative momentum to the furniture industry in China. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)