Why are China's elites going for "quiet luxury"?

China's elites are rewriting the luxury playbook with "quiet luxury", or stealth wealth. CNA's East Asia Tonight host Otelli Edwards finds out what this means and whether this trend is here to stay.
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[@acethis]

The way you deliver your narration in both English and Mandarin with ease deserves 2 thumbs up 👍 👍

[@delvingoh9749]

can only say ur standard very low

[@Scambuster491]

It’s easy in Singapore.

[@csy897]

Agreed, very well written and delivered

[@hermesliteratus882]

Fair enough, she communicates effectively, though she speaks both languages with a heavy accent.

[@Scambuster491]

@@hermesliteratus882 what accent? Lol.

[@user-sf5sv2hk8v]

Rich men spend like poor men, and poor men spend like rich men

[@jameslee2935]

How am I supposed to spot Chinese tourists without them wearing Balenciaga t-shirts and sporting Chanel handbags?

[@sqinnn]

You can simply hear them miles away

[@ghexaier]

they may look wealthy outside, but the inside won't be wealthy

[@sew_gal7340]

You just watch for them spitting

[@prana888]

the squatting style

[@buggyman286]

Money cannot buy class

[@mrartdeco]

Because everyone is tired to see word BALENCIAGA and BAPE on everyones clothes

[@stonkytong]

BAPE is not even luxury 😭

[@happymelon7129]

Soon Chinese parents will look at their children at dinner time and say ： "If you don't study hard, you will only be able to drive a Mercedes-Benz and a BMW in the future."

[@chrismanchin]

😁

[@PlanetXenornoph]

😂😂 Awesome

[@uyu4271]

BMW and Mercedes aint luxury brands in China anymore. Every Chinese knows those German cars are so tech outdated than any Chinese EV. Buying Mercedes and Benz is kind for stupid people with too much money that they dont know what to do with it. Rich people dont drive, thats why Huawei Aito M9 is specially designed for those people who sit back with a movie on big screen

[@bennytn5518]

In fact, minimally desirable women in Shanghai have been known to skip BMW drivers for being poor. Porsche is the passing grade. If you don't own a Porsche or Bentley/Aston/Ferrari/Lambo/Rolls, you aren't even qualified for a date with these women who are above 6.

[@lindaliang3825]

I have a secret to tell you, a BMW and a Honda feel very much the same when you're driving it.

[@tangina5172]

Not a fan .. this luxury is not a statement.. it’s crass .. individual style .. quiet elegance .. pleasant personality.. this is luxury

[@NeidlichesSchwert]

It speaks to a kind of emptiness they're feeling inside. Unlettered, unpracticed, unfulfilled.

[@ghexaier]

the masses would never understand that

[@stonkytong]

If you’re a multi millionaire, there’s really nothing else to spend on but branded

[@jonwick7635]

brand is for people to look rich

[@krollpeter]

nobody can buy class

[@theinazmie2472]

​@@krollpeterIndeed...

[@KT-lp1ek]

or people who can afford them too. Goes both ways.

[@stonkytong]

brand can be quality too. its good to be rich

[@JojoJoget]

Have they ever tried no luxury if they are gonna pretend to be humble?

[@bennytn5518]

That's what I do.

[@JYYP-jz7qq]

Hahaha that’s not how it works. They still want to show off their worth. The vibe kinda like hey I’m rich but I don’t wanna show that I’m rich. But I am. But I am not actively trying to show it off. But. I am lmao

[@marimo66666]

they loud we complain, quiet also complain. can you stop kpkb?

[@sew_gal7340]

The luxury is more than just the name , it also means higher quality materials(and more fabric)...cashmere is gonna feel much nicer than unprocessed wool that scratches your skin. The future is gonna be opposite of skimpy clothing because fabric will be very expensive so the more fabric on your body: the richer you are.

[@liamporter1137]

At least she knows Chinese. Some improvements.

[@maynotbe]

because the government told them to tone down the flaunting on the media, for general public's morale

[@griffinina]

To people in the comment who said the anchor has good Mandarin pronunciation: guys, this is Channel News Asia, a Singaporean news channel, so of course many people there have no problem with pronouncing Chinese words.

[@pinkpotatoes9849]

Not the China Chinese in Australia!! Wears 'Chanel' and heels to the supermarket and shopping malls!

[@hermesliteratus882]

It's dreadful.

[@donswee914]

Maybe now they prefer quiet washing machine than loud noisy washing machine.

[@AnUrbanGypsy]

Rinse and repeat function needed.

[@miguelsun5253]

Which probably explains why the top 1% is now giving up "quiet luxury" for "no luxury at all"

[@kelvin.008]

Not forgetting money laundering 😊

[@annle9671]

China with the population of 1.5 billion has 969 billionaires is not more than US which only have 350 million people yet 691 billionaires. If you switch over to percentage.

[@user-ni2os1bq7v]

now compare China"s middle class 707 million to the US

[@mahmoudghoneim8004]

Does the percentage really matter when both are 0.0000000000 of both populations. 😂

[@airypotty]

There used to be a time when if you wore a tee shirt provided by a brand for free, you would be considered a walking billboard. Worst is when you pay so much to be their advertisers. Glad people are slowly waking up to their senses.😊

[@GarryChoo]

Quiet luxury: Amazon Essentials= more money in your account.

[@KT-lp1ek]

I always mix and match. I'll wear a Louis Vuitton sweater $4000 with pair of jeans from Levis that was purchased on sale $29.99. I bought my first and only Rolex watch when I was 24....now 57, I still wear the same watch. And I have never bought any other watch, not even an Apple watch. I like designer clothes but also shop discounted items too.

[@tarawibowo]

Yes, it is the one and only "True luxury style"

[@tonywei423]

Yes, I felt that when I was in China recent times, people more look for the quality of textile, comfort and tech of cloth, something as simple as no edge underwear ( the edge and label all gone because the extra skin rub discomfort from them)

[@jw999]

People in China are getting smart about luxury. Singaporeans... Not quite...

[@ditsygirl5409]

You didn’t read news? Chinese government has recently banned accounts due to their ostentatious show of luxury wealth. It’s a sign that showing wealth is a no no now. 😂

[@thee_others]

The talk about quiet luxury and art/luxury collectibles are totally 2 different concepts. I do not mix these 2 together. The motivation to obtain these are not the same. If I spend money on quiet luxury items, I treat it as sunk cost.

[@lamentate07]

Asians seem more clueless about this distinction than westerners in my experience, especially the Chinese. Quiet luxury is an exaggerated 'trend' anyway.

[@lmc333]

So they finally realized flashy loud luxury is stupid...

[@gamering9465]

We have something like this in America. The bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

[@Jianfa88Tsai]

Monetise movie scene. As a “collector”, I don’t collect depreciating assets like retail goods, luxury cars, expensive holidays or even properties (mansions break down after 40 years or less). I collect lands and collect money.

[@ariesalcaide7768]

As of 2024, China has 814 billionaires and the US is following closely with 800 billionaires.

[@dianamsw245]

It’s call being modest and reshaping the culture of money.

[@johntoh6552]

Yay! She said Gen "Zed" instead of Gen "Zee", at about 1:22.👍👏😀

[@JRKZT]

China late to the QL party

[@Jianfa88Tsai]

After I bought a $10 million luxury item and I want to resell the same undamaged “second hand” item the next day, people only buy it for less than $5 million dollars, don’t I make a loss of $5 million+? Luxury cars and luxury retail items are known since ancient times not to give birth to future new or more money.

[@Bunny.8i]

because you don't want the government to take an interest in you.

[@fromtheoutside37]

"quiet luxury" ? shouldn't you and I be ignorant of this trend ?

[@Danderman888]

Hahahaha... It's not just the Chinese who are trending that way. It should be made a norm rather than a trend. Loud luxury is more than ugly. It is downright socially disruptive.

[@phoenix5054]

Imagine paying 20x for boring pieces you can buy literally everywhere else.

[@jcc1889]

Reminds me of the laundering of 1mdb money on those auctions

[@tridentmaple]

Talking nothing about quiet luxury at all!

[@eferlinindonesia1910]

Well the answer to the question in this video title is that the Chinese government fined those people who flaunt their wealth

[@devildevil2271]

It's another word for 5 Cs

[@Rapture77]

Avoiding logo overload and brand fatigue? Or just avoiding political scrutiny by the 'common prosperity' police ?

[@stellacheng6023]

Finally, comfortable with their $.

[@idrisow9791]

Current China drought and flood, foreign business exits, PMS below 50 not ever mentioned.

[@directxxxx71]

PMS??????😂😂😂

[@BeelP.]

China is doing fine, thank you. The official PMI covers a lot of 4th rung areas and semi rural industries as well, and these have been in decline since forever as people migrated to the coastal and larger interior cities. The Caixin index's strength is a reflection of that. China's GDP is almost certainly growing faster than the country you are from, still.

[@lwmtx6156]

U obviously only know China from western media.

[@hlwonka8783]

Personally , if you are well off thro own effort; no reason to portrait / show off your wealth. LV is for those who dont have but need to show off.

[@kennethguinto4862]

and they paid for this... ironic.

[@alphaTrader.oo1]

Mentality still new money if you talk about US China

[@stephenwonghongweng4298]

The US is steadily moving towards Hugo Boss for style if you get what I mean.

[@arcencielc2065]

Oh, Otelli can speak Mandarin? She says those 3 Chinese terms in proper pronunciation.

[@ymhktravel]

She actually came from a SAP school.

[@V1C70R7ZE]

for those tycoons no place to spent then spend at luxury item, they treat $10000 as $10 for own self, but treat for others $10 like $10000.. lol

[@MasterLeong888]

green dragon lets go

[@Jianfa88Tsai]

Billion dollar insight. People buy luxury that they can wear to feel good when showing off. It’s hard to tell the difference between real and fakes unless with specialist equipment or trained professional eyes. Pivotal. How do you wear land or property deed titles or tell others you own this land or that property so they know at a glance that you are ultra rich and not pretend rich?

[@bensky888]

china should impose 100% tariff to these luxury brand from EU and US in retaliation to them.

[@tangt4860]

Corrupt monies must of course be kept out of tge radar.

[@NoneofyourBusiness-ii1ps]

at least slightly less tasteless I will give you that

[@sps6]

Have money to buy?😂

[@pikaqgg2129]

People who can't afford their mortgage thumbs up

[@bruceyung70]

Billionaire 🎉wow😂

[@lshj82]

Talk talk talk.

[@animatrix7218]

glad that these billionaire are following my trend

[@Branch7ShuZhi]

Luxury items as investment 🤣?! More than just recession prove! It allows money to and fro ......

[@wymanspace4173]

Sounds disgusting.

[@SIR_RR]

The gap between rich and poor in china are the largest gap on any Asian countries, the romanticism of this situation is just disgusting.

[@Autonomous19]

You are definitely wrong. Fake news. There are many mainlanders here in Singapore. There average income per capital is less than 1k. Don't send fake news.

[@youtubeattacker]

Don’t forget the sourgrapes, cynical community too. They are everywhere especially in the comment sections. They couldn’t mind their own business most of the time. 😂

[@madmax8318]

Money laundering.

[@nextlastChang]

How can high ranking CCP 🇨🇳 members have *houses and children* studying in democratic countries? - their salaries are low, where do they get the money from?

[@dashong8912]

How do you know their salaries are low? Your firm beliefs?

[@buddyman8474]

War criminal tweets💩💩💩 They are 🇨🇳 not 💩 like u😅

[@NoEndForUs]

​@@dashong8912 How do you know it's not low? Your social credits?

[@dashong8912]

@@NoEndForUs The person who asserts their salaries are low is the person who must give the evidence. This is common sense.

[@jkw6196]

yea a bit like Pelosi isn't it?

[@1zamboni]

Get a real job start earnings and build up your wealth network, don't spend your parents money.

[@Sgscouser]

Another way to launder the monies. Should change the title to quiet laundering.😅😅😅

[@chrissj8333]

Basically copied the western old vs new money

[@adiuvat14]

Everything is under surveillance on fatherland 🇨🇳

[@marlion6183]

😂😂😂

[@believe88]

rolex is now for low ses ppl

[@Twertyuu]

At least they can afford rolex

[@kelvin.008]

Has been all along.. cashiers even wear them. And can even pay by instalments. 😂

[@mingwang4359]

😘😘😘💜💙🤎💚💛🧡❤💘💝💖💗💓💕💞❣