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Helen Lee (李鸿雁) is a Chinese fashion designer creating for her eponymous brand Helen Lee and her streetwear brand insh .
Following her graduation from the Raffles design institute and two years working in Japan, Helen Lee returned to Shanghai to found insh (meaning "in Shanghai"). "When I started my insh label in 2003, 99 per cent of customers were international, maybe it's because my style, designs and presentation were very international. It was something new for locals, even though we used some Chinese elements … [especially] Chinese concept and attitude. But locals didn't have the confidence to try it back then." - Helen lee said in her interview for South China Morning Post. However, slowly but steadily, Chinese consumers influenced by social media, Internet expansion and European and American style, were opening up to local designers.insh playful and edgy pieces won the likes of both local and international customers.
The success of insh led to the creation of Helen Lee, a premium brand known for its sophisticated and edgy designs, in 2009. In 2010 Helen Lee had its flagship store opened on Fumin Road in the Shanghai French Concession, marking the beginning of a new chapter in high-end Chinese fashion. Known and loved for its edgy designs and unique signature prints created for every new collection, Helen Lee is now a synonym of Shanghai fashion.
Helen Lee has collaborated on numerous fashion projects with brands like Saint James and Perfect Moment.
Currently, Helen Lee is one of the few Chinese brands stocked by multi-brand retailer Lane Crawford in China and Hong Kong and David Jones in Australia. Operating two brand outlets in Shanghai, the brand is also represented by a number of buyer boutiques throughout China and internationally.