Savino Del Bene was the logistics partner for the Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery exhibition in Shanghai’s Taikoo Li Qiantan, China that opened earlier this summer. The carefully curated collection offered a glimpse into the British fashion designer’s bold design language through its iconic jewelry pieces. It was a unique view of the world of Vivienne Westwood, displayed in one of the most dynamic venues of the fashion industry. And we’re honored to have played a part in making it possible.
Setting the frame
The journey to bring this extraordinary exhibition to life began in Auckland with meticulous planning and preparation. Before the first crate was lifted, critical compliance and security measures were carefully established. Temporary import exhibition permits were secured from local authorities to allow the direct transfer from New Zealand to China and then to the exhibition location. Sensitive cargo was shipped via sea freight, in full compliance of international dangerous goods regulations. The close coordination among the Auckland, Shanghai, London and Bangkok branches gave the shipments a seamless path forward.
Once the careful preparation was completed, the shipments began their global journey.
Bringing the exhibition to Shanghai
The largest shipment flew in from Auckland to Shanghai Pudong international Airport. Comprised of 41 crates that contained the building blocks of the exhibition: aluminum structural pieces, display cases and cabinets, mannequins and props, and a full suite of sound equipment.
Following that, the protected precious cargo of thoughtfully selected jewellery pieces and garments started their journey. Auckland and Shanghai branches worked hand in hand to safeguard the main contents, with their placement and packing supervised with utmost care.
Lighting the way
Another component of the airfreight shipments carried a wide range of lighting and electrical equipment, which was imported into the country through a free trade zone. Using a leasing arrangement for the exhibition, this enabled the exemption from certification requirement and ensured a smooth clearance and timely delivery for the installation. The shipment included lithium-ion battery packs required to power the exhibition’s lights and displays. As no airline accepted them for carriage, we arranged for two crates to travel by sea back to Felixstowe. To support the exhibition, build in Asia, a separate set of battery packs was sourced locally in China. It has been a pleasure to help showcase Vivienne Westwood’s extensive history of jewelry design in the Far East. We hope you enjoy Westwood’s unique design sensibilities, her references to history and culture, as much as we enjoyed bringing them closer to you.
Because behind every shipment, there’s a story waiting to be shared.
