SQY-T: Beijing On A Shirt

Don’t be fooled by the straightforward acronym. Shanghai Quality Yarn T-shirts sells more than just tees – it sells concepts.

And the brains behind the brand, Hu Yan, actually hails from Beijing. (Her original shop opened in Shanghai four years ago.) She recruits local designers to produce limited-edition products that playfully explore the human condition.

Take her architect husband, Li Han, whose graphic prints of urbanized landscapes study the relationship between the environment and its inhabitants.

If that's too abstract for you, then you can entertain yourself with simpler delights, including a “Got Stuck” shirt (RMB 280) depicting the familiar image of a traffic jam or other similarly emblazoned pencil cases, mugs, scarves and bags.

The designs range from maps of Beijing to Chinese slang, but each seeks to capture the energy of the city it draws inspiration from.

Must buy: Li Han’s T-shirt “Utopian Home” (RMB 280)
Also try: Plastered T-shirts, 360-Degree Design Shop

SQY-T
Daily 10.30am-9.30pm. 78 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District (8404 0148) www.sqy-t.com/en
东城区五道营胡同78号