Hoorah! The day has come! In less than 8 hours, the fruits of our labor will finally be unveiled to the world.

So, why the re-launch? It just occurred to me that while we’ve done this schpiel a million times to investors, we haven’t really gone into much detail about it to anyone else unless they’ve asked. Well, here goes. For what it’s worth here, the important thing to note is that fundamentally we haven’t changed our positioning, as purveyors of emerging design from Asia. Beyond “just” an e-commerce site that sells pretty things from the mystical Orient to the curious American or European customer, ZAOZAO now incorporates an added layer of storytelling via mixed media - mainly videos - to explore Asia in all its glory. The new ZAOZAO is a travel-inspired marketplace to discover exotic independent designs.

We’re redefining the online shopping experience as what we call a “destination shopping adventure”. The mental snapshot of whisking around on a scooter in Taipei with gua bao on one handle and a bubble tea hanging from a plastic baggy on the other. The moment your heart stops beating when the tuk-tuk in Thailand nearly collides with the barefoot cyclist balancing his kid brother precariously on his lap. Your breath taken away at the majestic view from the ultra-luxe rooftop infinity pool of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Biting into the piping hot deliciousness of a custard tart in Macau. Chasing lemurs in the Balinese rainforest that poop coffee beans. Frustration and confusion at hours of gridlock on the road in Jakarta. The dazzling array of skyscrapers and construction cranes peeping through the Hong Kong skyline. Oh, and China. YEAH, CHINA. We’re not even going to go there right now. But regardless, including these snippets adds dimension to the experience. With a renewed emphasis on content and curation, this is what you’re gonna come back for us for. Pictures are good, but moving pictures are even better.

For an outsider peering in, Asian destinations seem like a weird mix of very old with very new, juxtaposing rapid modernization with things literally falling apart at the seams. For Ling and me, our respective backgrounds as “third-culture” kids (TCK) offer unique perspective. Without going into excruciating detail, a TCK spends her developmental years outside her parents’ culture. Ling is the perfect example. Born in Singapore to Singaporean parents, she was raised in Hong Kong and later attended college in the US and Europe. For me, a part of this still rings true: until I moved to Hong Kong after college for work, I had always identified as an American, having been born and lived in New York forever, despite having Taiwanese parents. Being in Asia suddenly made the Taiwanese distinction that much more relevant. The point is, just like these evolving cities being influenced by the East and the West, in states of perpetual motion, we found solace in our discord and we owned it. We identified beauty in chaos. So, as style-savvy global nomads with a love for exploration and sharing, we will guide you on this virtual tour of Asia as seen by the eyes of locals - you, the sophisticated, wanderlusting shopper.

ZAOZAO is a discovery commerce platform that enables expression of individuality to the max. In a way, it’s edification through fashion. Education and entertainment while shopping for beautiful designs a world away, all at the tips of your fingers. What could be more exciting??

Just see for yourself and shop the journey. We can’t wait for you to join us!

xx, Vicky