The Shanghai Expo…What’s the BIG Deal???

I Can’t believe I actually made it out the door to the airport ! I couldn’t sleep a wink with excitement and anticipation for the Shanghai trip. I had some last minute wardrobe changes but everything worked out. I ALWAYS have hiccups along the way ….at the airport I had to buy a whole new plane ticket. For ten seconds, I was even thinking of not going; Sacha would be MAD about the money spent on a new flight. But this trip was once in a lifetime opportunity for me. You see, five years ago, when I came to Shanghai for my production, I was at a completely different place in my life in all aspects… emotionally, mentally, physically, and of course the business was just starting. Everyone was giving us the run around, and somehow our connections ended us in and around Shanghai.

I would stay in this place called the City Hotel, (I called it the Shitty Hotel, it was the best that we could afford at the time). It looked down on this AMAZING old beat down Mansion/ Castle…the Moller Villa… and I always said to myself, one day if I have a chance, if it is open to the public, I would stay in the Castle! At the time, I was sooo depressed. The only thing that would get me out of bed sometimes would be to look out the window of the Shitty Hotel and dream about the Castle, and one day to be the Greatest Fashion Designer in the World. It really kept me going. I would think about who the Castle belonged to, when it was built, what the history was… I was so curious. It was so magical for me since I was so lonely to dream.

It is REALLY hard being alone all the time. To top It off, it is even harder working with people that didn’t understand and doing it in a foreign place. I was so young too. All I really wanted to do was design and I was doing everything but that. I look back and think of how far I have come in 5 years….. Shanghai has really played a HUGE part in my beginning, so it was great to go back for its big debut, all fresh and new. I felt so proud!!!

So the World Expo!!!!!!!!!!!! First…… YES!!!! I stayed at the CASTLE! What an experience. It was all that I had dreamed of and more. It really was a dream. I think that I got a former child’s bedroom, off the Master Bedroom. The Moller Villa was all renovated and fresh. What a beautiful place. It must have been the spot back in the Thirties when it was built. If you ever are in Shanghai, you should check it out, it really is a sight for sore eyes…. www.hengshanmollervillas.com.

Saturday was spent all day at the Expo. I was SHOCKED by the mass of people at the Expo…. 250,000 for one day! WOW! I had never seen so many people in one space in my life. So what is the big deal? The history of the World Expo, or World’s Fair as my Parents would know it goes back Hundreds of years.

The idea of the Expo is to allow people to explore the world outside of their everyday experiences…. Outside cultures, new scientific advancements, and new inventions. Some of the most dynamic and groundbreaking art and architecture have debuted at the World Expo including the Eiffel Tower, The Crystal Palace, and The Space Needle. This year was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed the Expo, it was breathtaking. Here are my highlights in no particular order… please keep in mind that with the mass of people I was not able to enter all the Pavilions. These are my opinions based on overall presentation and architecture. Some of the lines were 8 and 10 hours long!!!!

1. Korea Pavilion- This one was awesome!!! It was made up of Korean Script, and looked like something out of Star Wars. It really was cool. The script was punched out or raised. One of my favorites…actually it was the first Pavilion I saw. It had a traditional Korean drum line playing music inside the Pavilion in traditional costume. So authentic. The crowd really loved it.

Korea Pavilion

2. Kazakhstan Pavilion- Heee heee…. It was much better than the USA Pavilion!!! It had flair! They put effort into it, you could tell. Thumbs up!!

Kazakhstan Pavilion

3. Japan Pavilion- You can see I am not the only one taking photos…. Note.. I did not go in this one, the line to get in was 7 hours long no kidding. It was one of the more creative looking Pavilions from the outside… so space age and Japanimation-like.

Japan Pavillion

4. United Emirates Pavilion- Pure stunning desert like look. It was beautiful. I really felt like I was transplanted into a futuristic desert.

United Emirates Pavilion

5. China Pavilion- The size alone would give you chills. It really was so powerful standing underneath.. It really gave you a sense of the size of China in comparison to the other countries.. even though they were the host country. This Pavilion really took my breath away. I felt like an Ant underneath… my picture doesn’t do the size justice. Inside, each major city had a section that gave you an idea of what the future in China will be like…will China take over the world?

China Pavilion

6. Sweden Pavilion- It was cool that you could borrow a bike and ride down it. So fun and interactive. Sweden had a carefree vibe… and I love that you get the cold weather vibe from the white exterior. Super job on this Pavilion!

Sweden Pavilion

7. Estonia Pavilion- This pavilion was neat, it had multiple elements to it… the primary colors, the metals and the dots. I was fascinated by it! It also sent out such a great message. It was very complex… probably the way that Estonia is, I don’t know I have never been there but I assume so.

Estonia Pavilion

8. Spain Pavilion- Spain was breathtaking!!! It was covered in these wicker basket-like panels. It was super modern and beautiful, I must have stood and stared for at least 5 minutes at the Pavilion. It really was a sight!!! I loved the Neon Espana sign, what a great contrast to the wicker. It was well thought out and smart.

Spain Pavilion

9. Switzerland Pavilion- It had a ski lift to come down!!! What coolness! I thought the red snowballs were genius. Brilliant. Love Switzerland… a top favorite!

Switzerland Pavilion

10. Germany Pavilion- Beautiful building… a little cold looking compared to it’s other EU neighbors… but packed with people and a China favorite since at the time Gremany was still in the World Cup.

Germany Pavilion

11. Turkey Pavilion- I only went since Sacha and Mehran in my office are Turks…..I thought that it was super cute that they had a Falafel Restaurant in the back….The Turks always know how to make an extra buck, hee hee! Love you guys!

Turkey Pavilion

12. Great Britain Pavilion- You can’t see it very well, but this is the one that looks like a bunch of pins sticking out…..it really is crazy. It was one of my top two. Like a big pin head. CRAZY. It won an award for best design, it really was beautiful.

Great Britain Pavilion

13. Mexico Pavilion- Mushrooms on speed is all I can do to to describe this display. What???? This is Mexico…. I F’ing love it. LOVE Mexico! LOVE Mexico! Revolutionary , period.

Mexico Pavilion

14. Brasil Pavilion- I love the grass in Brasil! So fun!!!!!! I loved this one. So great. I loved this one!!!!!!!!! One of the best! It really looked like if you blew too hard, the whole building would topple over! How did they do it!!! Those Brasilians…. Sooo Brilliant!

Brasil Pavilion

15. USA Pavilion- Saved the best for last. No really… here’s the breakdown… dancer sidestage…. Foursome dancing to “Born in the USA.” Red, white and blue spangle costuming. Architecture reminiscent of an Novitel Hotel. Lighting worse than the Beach Boulevard of Cars!!! I was embarrassed. A GMC parked out front…. It was not my best moment. Some Western Chinese Tourists wanted pictures with me, a “real” American.

USA Pavilion

I think that this sums up where the USA is in the design world. In the automobile, fashion, and art industries we are so far behind the pack. This was the forum to show our stuff… did we just not care? Honestly, I know that there are more important things happening in the world, but this is a major event. Couldn’t we put a little effort into it? Exchange students giggling to Bruce Springsteen doesn’t represent the future of my Country to the rest of the world, in my mind…. Just sayin… maybe we felt that dumping
more money into Afghanistan was more important than investing in a global gathering to promote future industry, peace, harmony and globalization. Why aren’t we on the same page as everyone else?

I absolutely LOVE being American, but I have learned so much from traveling internationally, and spending over half my recent years overseas. I have learned that the rest of the world may not view the United States in such a positive light. I have also learned to appreciate my culture, and the other cultures that my culture derived from. Being at the Expo this year opened my eyes even wider to new cultures that I was not aware of, and ones that I want to explore further.

If you have an opportunity travel to Shanghai, China within the next few months, I encourage you to visit the World Expo. It really is an AWESOME experience. The World Expo runs through October. It really is a culture, art, architecture eye-opener and you will be floored by how enriching the experience will be. Enjoy!

Peace, Love, and Fashion………………. Meg Fab

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