Taiwanese pop artist A-Mei(image from Specktra.Net)
Am I gradually becoming a MAC person? First of all, Alexander McQueen for MAC really caught my eye and I have got the eyeshadow in Haunting. Also, some items from the Holiday 2007 Antiquitease collection have already been on my shopping list for a while.
Then, a couple of days ago, I saw the face of A-Mei (pronounced “Ah-May“, a Taiwanese pop star) on Specktra Beauty Blog. (I saw her name as the name of one of MAC’s future releases earlier on the site, and I was wondering back then.)
For people who grew up or have lived in any part of the Chinese-speaking part of the world, A-Mei needs no introduction. I think it is fair to say that she is the queen of pop in the Chinese-speaking world.
Ethnically, A-Mei is Austronesian (not Han Chinese or Sino-Tibetan, in a more general term) as she shares genetic ties with peoples in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Oceania, which is reflected on her features. Her ancestors have been living in Taiwan for thousands of years before Han Chinese began settlements in Taiwan four centuries ago. In many people’s eyes, she and her heritage say more about the Taiwanese history, even though the Austronesians only account for around 2% of the Taiwanese population.
After winning a major talent contest and releasing her debut album in 1996, she became an instant sensation. (For me, that album is still a sentimental favorite of mine, among all her others.) Her fame grew and grew as she became a household name in many East Asian countries.
As she reached an iconic status in Asia, her achievements unavoidably carry a weight of cultural significance. I will be excited to see A-Mei’s stunning features gracing MAC counters! We still haven’t seen the actual shades of the line-up, but who knows…maybe they will be on my list later on.
According to a thread on Specktra.Net Forum, the A-Mei collection will be sold in selected shops in the US and various countries in Asia. I will definitely follow the news of this upcoming collection and keep you posted.
Update on December 7, 2007:
Check out this clip, freshly out today. A-Mei looks great here!
I assume the first part of the clip features the shooting of the promotional images. In the second part of the clip, A-Mei mentions that she is very happy to be collaborating with MAC on the upcoming color collection. She also says that she is not usually used to wearing such a red lip color (she usually wears quite nude shades) but that she is now getting into it more.
Also, she looks forward to all the challenges in 2008, including a production of Turandot in Japan. But at the moment she is gearing up for the three concerts in Taipei later this month.
One thing I have noticed about the MAC A-Mei logo design (00:56 and throughout the clip) is the use of cross-stitching patterns featured in the traditional costumes of her native Puyuma tribe in Taiwan. I think it is a great touch.
Other relevant information:
See the MAC A-Mei Color Collection Face Charts.
Check the international availability of MAC A-Mei Color Collection.
Update on December 8, 2007:
A sneak peek at part of the collection!
(MAC for A-Mei Color Collection)(image from www.urcosme.com)
Updated on December 11, 2007:
Check out this link to see a striking image of A-Mei wearing the collection, which was released to the Taiwanese press.
Updated on December 14, 2007:
Janice at Specktra Beauty News has posted a follow-up entry on the MAC A-Mei Color Collection, which includes a great photo of the whole collection.
Also, she has pointed me to a thread on Specktra.Net Forum, which includes stock images of the collection. Let’s keep track of this thread and hopefully see more and more images of the collection!
Thank you very much, Janice!
I love the stock images. It was fantastic to see the actual items up close. The packaging is as stunning as it appears on previous images, and it almost gives me goosebumps to see the colorful tribal cross-stitching concept being well carried-out with a good sense of authenticity. Marvelous!(The comment function for this post doesn’t seem to be working at the moment. I do apologize for this. If you would like to leave a comment, please do so under the post where you found this update. Thank you very much!)
Updated on January 11, 2008:
The collection was out earlier this month. Check out this post for photos of the storefront decoration for the launch of the A-Mei collection in a MAC store in Taipei, collection counter display, and color swatches.
Enjoy!
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow I thought she was Amerie? Her heritage is very interesting….
I am the same becoming a MAC person slowly…!!
PJ fantastic entry! I really enjoy some of her music and I think she’s just gorgeous and I have hopes that they’ll introduce a gorgeous collection to go with such a wonderful personality!
I’m impressed with all the MAC on your wish list love ;)
Come to the darkside…we have cookies…hehe!
Hello RF again,
I see your point actually, especially from this photo. (You probably know that Amerie is half-Korean, and I do like her look as well.)
I think I might be in the middle of a brief MAC phase. We’ll see how long this phase manages to last!
Thank you for leaving a comment again! (By the way, your blog is taking shape nicely.)
Hello A-Mused,
I am very glad that you enjoy this post (since you are a MAC fan).
I know that marketing has obviously something to do with it, but what I also like about her (apart from her superb natural talent) is that she seems genuinely down-to-earth and harding-working. I think she is just generally very likable, and her fans have been very supportive over the past decade.
So you listen to some of her music? It’s great that you enjoy it!
I really look forward to seeing the shades from the collection. We’ll see what happens. :)
hello there :)
I do indeed :) I have a compilation cd of hers which I adore. It has 30 some odd songs on it!
I’m also quite a fan of j-rock =) and I’m engaged to Gackt as well (he just doesn’t know that).
I find all asian pop stars are very hard working and humble. Very un-hollywood! The same goes for Hindi/bollywood stars! Which is why I admire them so much!
Can’t wait to see the shades to this collection too!
Last year I forgot who it was but it was a Spanish pop star that they did a collection for. I find this much more exciting because I find asian girls exotic looking and makeup looks on them always come out very elegant and classy even if the attempt is a bold color or vibrant shade! So I’m very curious to see what they come up with for some of the promos!
She’s a gorgeous girl and this first picture seems fab but I’m sure they’ll do at least three more!
Hello A-Mused,
I see. I look forward to seeing more of the promotional images!
I thought one of my friends was engaged to Gackt as well…:)
You have a very wide range of taste in music. Really fantastic!
I quite like Japanese pop music as well even though my Japanese is very limited…
Would definitely want to learn more Japanese…:)
Hi PJ
I’m a first-time visitor to your blog.
Out of curiosity.. is A-Mei the first Asian star to be featured in a MAC collection? Is this considered an endorsement deal for her?
I thought it would make better sense for her MAC collection to be sold in East Asian countries where she’s more well-known, instead of the West.
CK
Hello CK!
Thank you very much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!
I think A-Mei is probably the first Asian star to be featured in a MAC collection, but I might be wrong since I haven’t been a very active follower of MAC for several years.
I think in this case (according to the Specktra.Net Blog post that I linked to), I get a sense that it is more of a collaboration than an endorsement. But so far we know relatively little about the collection…
I definitely expect the collection to be sold in Asia and this is what is mentioned in one of the Specktra.Net forum threads. But I think it would be quite exciting to see this collection sold outside Asia as well.
I shall try to keep you updated with the development of the collection on my blog! We’ll see!
Thank you again for commenting. Hope to hear from you again!
I can’t wait for its launch!
A-mei is such an amazing singer with a great personality.
Hello there,
I share your view completely. A-Mei is such a great singer with a wonderful personality and professional attitude.
I can’t wait to see all the shades either! :)
Thank you for leaving a comment!
wow, cant believe it. I cant wait for this collection to come out. Thank you for the info and Ill definetly be waiting for your updates on this collaboration. I love A-Mei and yeah her first few albums definetly impacted me during my childhood.
Hi, im Kiki. i found your blog last week and i love it. Congrats on your 1 yr anniv =)
Hello Kiki,
Thank you for leaving a comment and for your kind words!
I am indeed very much looking forward to A-Mei’s collaboration with MAC. She is a real icon and it will be interesting to see what the collaboration will bring us.
I will try to keep you posted on this on my blog.
Thank you for visiting my blog! Do please continue to stop by when you have time. :)
Is this the “in” lipstick color now?
http://www.im.tv/vlog/personal/431329/3091414
Hello CK again,
Thank you very much for sending me the link.
I enjoyed watching the clip very much, and I will share this clip with all the other readers!
Thank you again! :)
Hey PJ,
I’m soo loving the packaging. To me Aborigines represent the face of Taiwan (where I’m from =D) so I’m so excited that the packaging reflects her tribe. Plus A-mei.. does anyone that listens to Chinese music not love her? Her voice and talent.. wow wow wow.. I definitely love her older songs more though.. I don’t think her new songs showcase her voice as naturally and beautiful as before, but that’s just me.
BTW., my hubby is half Ataya.
PS: T’estimo frame impact eyes in blue?? gorgeous on me!! I could not believe it!! I swear, my eyes looked like the sky with sparkly stars on the lids. I’m glad I followed your blog into buying it. =D
only place the collection would be sold in cali is SF. they should totally sell it here in LA since there are so many Asians here. Anyhow, Ill be going to tw in January so hopefully I will get to see it for myself. I totally wasnt expecting the packages to look like that but it definitely gives it a different feel.
Beautiful! Together they created something very A-mei!
Hi PJ!
Thanks for that sneak preview of the the A-Mei collection. The only thing missing is printing A-Mei’s name on it. That would have been cool!
Hello Gloria,
I agree with you. In many ways, the aboriginal culture in Taiwan says more about the essence of Taiwan. I am a Han Chinese myself but I think all of us should celebrate all the aspects of the colorful Taiwanese culture.
Also with you on the earlier music of A-Mei. For me, my ultimate favorites are from her earlier years. They are pop classics which also showcase her tremendous talents.
I am so glad that you enjoyed the blue T’Estimo palette. (I also saw that you bought the purple one, which is the one I have.) I don’t have the blue one, but I can imagine how good it looks and I actually almost decided to get this one as well.
I look forward to the reviews of the palettes on your blog if you decide to write them. (I am loving your work on your blog. Keep it up!)
Thank you for commenting again! :)
Hello Kiki,
Indeed, I didn’t expect the packaging to be like this, but I am surprised in the most pleasant way.
Since the collection will not be sold in the UK, I will probably ask my friends to help me with the purchase.
By the way, I didn’t mention in the update that the collection will be launched in Taiwan on January 3…just for your reference.
Thank you for your comment! :)
Hello there,
That’s my first thought as well. Definitely very A-Mei. I think A-Mei fans will love to collect some of the items!
Thank you for commenting!
Hello CK again,
Indeed it would be nice to have A-Mei’s name on the case. But I am guessing her name will be on the outer box. That would be very nice too!
Thank you again for sending me the link to the clip. I have watched it for several times and I really enjoyed it. She looks (and sounds) fantastic!
Marie Claire Taiwan (Dec) featuring A-mei
http://www.marieclaire.com.tw/cover/cover.jpg
Watch her LIVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rg1laXE1a0
Marie Claire (Int’l Chinese Edition)
http://tw.fashion.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/071205/38/6pc.html?pg=1
On M.A.C
拍照空檔，國際彩妝品牌 M.A.C 給阿妹送來整整策劃一年的合作彩妝系列。外包裝的紙盒印著就像幸運帶那般的鮮豔色塊，上面寫著：a-mei。這是2006年，張惠妹與 M.A.C的巨星合作計畫，飛到紐約 M.A.C 總部，與代表新加坡的孫燕姿一起競爭。最後，他們選了阿妹的「寶貝」。因為那不單只是一個巨星的所有物而已，那代表了台灣卑南族的民族特性，同時也是代表著張惠妹與母親之間的緊密關係。對於小時候不愛漂亮、個性就像個小男生一樣，比起偷擦彩妝品與偷穿高跟鞋，可能還更愛爬樹、唱歌的阿妹，從來也沒有想過，有一天，那沉穩的黑色眼線、閃著銀藍的眼影，會成為她登上國際舞台的關鍵。
Hello Marie Claire Taiwan!!
Thank you very much for stopping by my blog and leaving the comments!
Thank you as well for the links and all the information!
I am so excited about this and I’m so glad it’s going to be available at the Pro Store near me (Vancouver)!
Hello Psychoexgirlfriend,
I can’t say I am not envious of the fact that it would be much easier for you to get the A-Mei collection, since it will not be available in Europe.
I will probably ask my friends to get one or two items for me.
In the meantime, let me know your thoughts if you do pick up some of the items!
Thank you for leaving your comment again! :)
I love this packaging and I love A-Mei!!
Hello there,
I am with you. I really like A-Mei and I think the packaging of this collection is wonderfully unique and colorful and that it reflects her heritage. It is just fantastic!
Thank you for leaving your comment! :)
Hi PJ
Happy belated New Year to you!
The MAC A-Mei collection is already on sale from 1 Jan in selected Asian countries including Taiwan and Malaysia.
Hope those who have bought it can share their comments here. Does the range include others besides the lipstick and eye shadow?
Hello CK,
Happy New Year to you too!
Thank you for letting me know about the release of the MAC A-Mei collection in Taiwan and Malaysia. (I remember that the official launch date in Taiwan is January 3rd, but obviously items are often out a bit earlier.)
I think the collection includes the eyeshadow palettes, the lipsticks, and the lip glosses (two of each). It is not an extensive collection, but I like the fact that there are two distinctive looks (the bold and colorful look and the neutral look).
Also, you have probably seen that A-Mei’s name is indeed on the boxes.
I am also looking forward to hearing the thoughts of people who have bought items from the collection. We’ll see!
Thank you for your comment again! Enjoy 2008!