How Team Wang design is reimagining JDB’s iconic red cans for a new generation

Chinese herbal beverage brand JDB’s distinctive cans have been synonymous with hot pot culture in China for a decade—a familiar presence at family tables and restaurant gatherings. The brand, however, sees potential for more. Enter Team Wang design, the high-fashion streetwear label co-founded by Jackson Wang and Henry Cheung, whose collaboration proposes an alternative reading of what JDB might represent.

As Andrew Chan, JDB’s vice president, describes it, the partnership centres on a “parallel universe”—a thought experiment that questions why JDB’s visual identity must remain fixed. The result sees the brand’s iconic red paired with Team Wang design’s signature black, creating a darker aesthetic that feels distinctly removed from hot pot restaurants.

Launched on January 9 under the theme “Hope you get treasure”, this 2026 Chinese New Year collaboration spans limited-edition cans, co-branded apparel and exclusive teaware. The apparel collection reinterprets Tang suit silhouettes through details like stand collars, Chinese frog buttons and embroidered “寳” (treasure) characters from JDB’s logo.

Inside the pop-up, where JDB’s iconic red met Team Wang design’s signature black aesthetic.

Inside the Team Wang design x JDB pop-up in Guangzhou.

The Guangzhou pop-up, which ran from January 21 to 25, brought this vision to life through interactive installations. Beyond the apparel and packaging displays, visitors experienced tongue diagnosis zones and fortune stick draws—nods to traditional Chinese wellness practices.

Here, Henry Cheung, chief executive of Team Wang design, and Chan discuss the partnership’s development, the thinking behind reimagining a household name, and their views on how Chinese tradition might adapt to shifting consumer expectations.

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(L-R) Henry Cheung, chief executive of TEAM WANG design, and Andrew Chan, vice president of JDB

What made this partnership feel right for your brand, and how did the conversation begin?

Cheung: Herbal tea is an important part of southern Chinese culture. I grew up drinking JDB, and it’s always held a special sense of comfort and nostalgia for me.

JDB holds nostalgic value for many Chinese consumers. Do you or Jackson have any personal memories with the brand?

Cheung: There’s a meaningful story behind JDB that resonates with us. Originally known under a different name, we recognise JDB as representing the authentic original taste. This aligns with our brand philosophy: “Know yourself, make your own history.” Today, we’re writing that history together with JDB.

Is there a design detail in this collection that you’re especially proud of?

Cheung: Less is more. We kept the iconic red of the can and paired it with our signature black. It represents the synergy between two brands—a step beyond boundaries.

Apparel from the Team Wang design x JDB Lunar New Year collection

Details from the Team Wang design x JDB Chinese New Year collection

Beyond this collaboration, how does Chinese cultural identity fit into Team Wang design’s broader brand DNA?

Cheung: Both Jackson and I are rooted in Chinese heritage, and we’re committed to bringing our culture to the global stage—sharing our origins and inviting the world to experience them.

What makes a brand “right” for Team Wang design to collaborate with?

Cheung: Everything comes back to the roots—what it symbolises and what we envision. Most importantly, it has to resonate with us personally.

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The collaboration spans limited-edition cans, co-branded apparel and exclusive teaware.

JDB has been a household name in China for decades. What made now the right time to collaborate with a contemporary streetwear brand like Team Wang design?

Chan: During the early stages of discussion, we introduced the concept of a “parallel universe.” We started by questioning familiar assumptions: Why does JDB’s packaging have to be red? Why must it follow a fixed visual identity? We asked ourselves—if JDB existed in a parallel universe, what might it look like?

These conversations led us to reimagine JDB through the lens of Team Wang design. In this alternate universe, the packaging takes on a darker tone, reflecting Team Wang design’s signature visual language. Through this collaboration, we’ve brought that parallel-universe concept into reality, offering a fresh perspective on a classic brand.

Teaware from the Team Wang design x JDB Lunar New Year collection

Limited-edition cans reimagine JDB's iconic packaging through Team Wang design's aesthetic

Looking beyond this collaboration, what lasting impact do you hope it has on how consumers perceive JDB?

Chan: Traditionally, JDB has been closely associated with hot pot culture, which has shaped a relatively narrow perception of the brand. As consumer lifestyles evolve, we see an opportunity to expand that narrative.

Through this collaboration, we want to position JDB as part of a broader lifestyle—whether as a fashion statement, a symbol of wellness or a culturally relevant part of everyday life. Our goal is for consumers to see JDB not only as a brand rooted in herbal tea tradition, but as one that continues to innovate and resonate with contemporary culture.

We also hope to foster a spirit of creativity—one that encourages people to think differently. Tradition doesn’t have to be rigid or outdated; it can be playful, forward-looking and full of possibility.

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