Although a wholesale company of high-end brands, Xinsely also manages numerous brand stores at home base Chengdu and other cities across the mountainous Sichuan region. Founded in 1993, it’s well-rooted in the booming city’s retail scene, keeping abreast with the fast-evolving sensibilities of savvy local shoppers. As of late, the company manages a striking buyers store at The MixC, one of Chengdu‘s upscale shopping centres, flaunting its expertise in brand curation. For this effort, Xinsely tapped local architecture practice Jiyi Space Design to create a fitting setting for the boutique’s select range of fashion-forward brands from home and abroad. Called XSELECT, the store occupies a 260 sqm. (2,799 sq.ft.) on the second floor and sees an understated interior design infused with striking volumes of steel which aims to be a blank canvas, albeit a slightly futuristic one, for any fashion trend or style. Laser galvanised steel sheets have been used to adorn the façade and entrance, featuring multi-faceted sides in diagonal shapes as if cut from stone, and paired with red terrazzo flooring. Chunky displays come in the same shiny material while suspended structures, crafted from metal rods mimicking the contours of the steel volumes below, tie in with equally sleek clothing racks lining the wall. The back section sees a slight aesthetic shift as the terrazzo flooring transforms to a grey shade and galvanised steel sheets where a display installation is situated. Walls are either covered in cement paint or feature sheets of mirrored stainless steel. A sales counter, clad entirely in travertine, straddles the two sections. The XSELECT boutique carries a curated selection of forward womenswear by international and homegrown brands, including Nanushka, ffixxed studios, ACT No1, Oude Waag, Enföld and MRZ.