Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark

Han Zhang

doi:doi:10.11648/j.si.20251301.12

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Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark

Han Zhang^*

Published in Science Innovation (Volume 13, Issue 1)

Received: 21 March 2025 Accepted: 9 April 2025 Published: 14 April 2025

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Abstract

Founded in 1898 by Fung Fuk-tin in Hong Kong, the Two Girls Brand emerged from the complex colonial context of British Hong Kong (established in 1842), embodying a unique hybridity of Eastern and Western cultural influences. The brand’s visual identity evolved through three distinct phases: the original colonial-era logo (late 19th to early 20th century), a modified version used in Shanghai during China's public-private partnership period (1950s), and a contemporary redesign introduced after 2010. These transformations reflect China’s broader socioeconomic trajectory—from semi-colonialism through socialist reform to global integration. In the 21st century, China's economic rise and intensified Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration (via mechanisms such as CEPA and the Shanghai Free Trade Zone) have facilitated Two Girls’ repositioning as a case study in heritage brand revitalization and the rise of “Guochao” (国潮) nationalism. The brand’s century-long evolution offers critical insights into colonial modernity, transitions in consumer culture, and the repackaging of historical legacies in contemporary China.

Published in	Science Innovation (Volume 13, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.si.20251301.12
Page(s)	7-10
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Modern and Contemporary History, Two Girls Brand, Chinese Cosmetics Brands, National Brands

References

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[3]	宋钻友. 近代上海女性的化妆新观念与化妆品消费. 中国史研究前沿. 2020, 15(3), 482–509. https://doi.org/10.3868/s020-009-020-0019-3
[4]	王子初. 近代上海广生行化妆品商业美术研究 (1910～1948) [D]. 宁波大学, 2022. https://doi.org/10.27256/d.cnki.gnbou.2022. 001253
[5]	子昱. «“双妹”薄命?》. 当代经理人. 2010, (07), 23. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:JJLW.0.2010-07-015
[6]	郭丽. 见证引领百年上海名媛文化活力——记中国化妆品品牌活化石双妹. 中国化妆品. 2021, (07), 36–37. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:ZHZP.0.2021-07-010
[7]	张婷.民国月份牌中女性形象的叙述研究.收藏与投资. 2024, 15(09), 175–177. https://doi.org/10.19897/j.cnki.scytz.2024.09.056
[8]	卜京. 月份牌画风格在上海老化妆品牌包装中的再设计——以双妹为例. 今传媒. 2018, 26(08), 111–113. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:BKZY.0.2018-08-042
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[11]	黄锴. 复活双妹: 上海家化准备好了吗? 中国品牌. 2011, (12), 78–80. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:ZGPP.0.2011-12-038
[12]	李光安, 施秉慧. 视觉叙事在老字号美妆品牌形象设计中的应用——以“双妹”品牌为例 [J]. 设计. 2024, 9(2), 588–595. https://doi.org/10.12677/design.2024.92250
[13]	刘琼. 上海家化借复活“双妹”进军奢侈品行业 [N]. 第一财经日报, 2010-08-24(C03).
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Zhang, H. (2025). Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark. Science Innovation, 13(1), 7-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20251301.12

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ACS Style

Zhang, H. Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark. Sci. Innov. 2025, 13(1), 7-10. doi: 10.11648/j.si.20251301.12

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Zhang H. Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark. Sci Innov. 2025;13(1):7-10. doi: 10.11648/j.si.20251301.12

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@article{10.11648/j.si.20251301.12,
  author = {Han Zhang},
  title = {Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark
},
  journal = {Science Innovation},
  volume = {13},
  number = {1},
  pages = {7-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.si.20251301.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20251301.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.si.20251301.12},
  abstract = {Founded in 1898 by Fung Fuk-tin in Hong Kong, the Two Girls Brand emerged from the complex colonial context of British Hong Kong (established in 1842), embodying a unique hybridity of Eastern and Western cultural influences. The brand’s visual identity evolved through three distinct phases: the original colonial-era logo (late 19th to early 20th century), a modified version used in Shanghai during China's public-private partnership period (1950s), and a contemporary redesign introduced after 2010. These transformations reflect China’s broader socioeconomic trajectory—from semi-colonialism through socialist reform to global integration. In the 21st century, China's economic rise and intensified Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration (via mechanisms such as CEPA and the Shanghai Free Trade Zone) have facilitated Two Girls’ repositioning as a case study in heritage brand revitalization and the rise of “Guochao” (国潮) nationalism. The brand’s century-long evolution offers critical insights into colonial modernity, transitions in consumer culture, and the repackaging of historical legacies in contemporary China.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark

AU  - Han Zhang
Y1  - 2025/04/14
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20251301.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.si.20251301.12
T2  - Science Innovation
JF  - Science Innovation
JO  - Science Innovation
SP  - 7
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-787X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20251301.12
AB  - Founded in 1898 by Fung Fuk-tin in Hong Kong, the Two Girls Brand emerged from the complex colonial context of British Hong Kong (established in 1842), embodying a unique hybridity of Eastern and Western cultural influences. The brand’s visual identity evolved through three distinct phases: the original colonial-era logo (late 19th to early 20th century), a modified version used in Shanghai during China's public-private partnership period (1950s), and a contemporary redesign introduced after 2010. These transformations reflect China’s broader socioeconomic trajectory—from semi-colonialism through socialist reform to global integration. In the 21st century, China's economic rise and intensified Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration (via mechanisms such as CEPA and the Shanghai Free Trade Zone) have facilitated Two Girls’ repositioning as a case study in heritage brand revitalization and the rise of “Guochao” (国潮) nationalism. The brand’s century-long evolution offers critical insights into colonial modernity, transitions in consumer culture, and the repackaging of historical legacies in contemporary China.

VL  - 13
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Han Zhang

Design College, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korean

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APA Style

Zhang, H. (2025). Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark. Science Innovation, 13(1), 7-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20251301.12

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ACS Style

Zhang, H. Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark. Sci. Innov. 2025, 13(1), 7-10. doi: 10.11648/j.si.20251301.12

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AMA Style

Zhang H. Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark. Sci Innov. 2025;13(1):7-10. doi: 10.11648/j.si.20251301.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.si.20251301.12,
  author = {Han Zhang},
  title = {Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark
},
  journal = {Science Innovation},
  volume = {13},
  number = {1},
  pages = {7-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.si.20251301.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20251301.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.si.20251301.12},
  abstract = {Founded in 1898 by Fung Fuk-tin in Hong Kong, the Two Girls Brand emerged from the complex colonial context of British Hong Kong (established in 1842), embodying a unique hybridity of Eastern and Western cultural influences. The brand’s visual identity evolved through three distinct phases: the original colonial-era logo (late 19th to early 20th century), a modified version used in Shanghai during China's public-private partnership period (1950s), and a contemporary redesign introduced after 2010. These transformations reflect China’s broader socioeconomic trajectory—from semi-colonialism through socialist reform to global integration. In the 21st century, China's economic rise and intensified Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration (via mechanisms such as CEPA and the Shanghai Free Trade Zone) have facilitated Two Girls’ repositioning as a case study in heritage brand revitalization and the rise of “Guochao” (国潮) nationalism. The brand’s century-long evolution offers critical insights into colonial modernity, transitions in consumer culture, and the repackaging of historical legacies in contemporary China.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Legendary Brand of the Republic of China: A Study on the Evolution of the Two Girls Brand Trademark

AU  - Han Zhang
Y1  - 2025/04/14
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20251301.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.si.20251301.12
T2  - Science Innovation
JF  - Science Innovation
JO  - Science Innovation
SP  - 7
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-787X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20251301.12
AB  - Founded in 1898 by Fung Fuk-tin in Hong Kong, the Two Girls Brand emerged from the complex colonial context of British Hong Kong (established in 1842), embodying a unique hybridity of Eastern and Western cultural influences. The brand’s visual identity evolved through three distinct phases: the original colonial-era logo (late 19th to early 20th century), a modified version used in Shanghai during China's public-private partnership period (1950s), and a contemporary redesign introduced after 2010. These transformations reflect China’s broader socioeconomic trajectory—from semi-colonialism through socialist reform to global integration. In the 21st century, China's economic rise and intensified Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration (via mechanisms such as CEPA and the Shanghai Free Trade Zone) have facilitated Two Girls’ repositioning as a case study in heritage brand revitalization and the rise of “Guochao” (国潮) nationalism. The brand’s century-long evolution offers critical insights into colonial modernity, transitions in consumer culture, and the repackaging of historical legacies in contemporary China.

VL  - 13
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download