For the past 30 years China has undergone a period of extraordinary transformation. Economic and political reform has enabled China to become the second wealthiest country in the world.

China’s politics and it’s traditional cultural identity celebrates the group over the individual. Recent economic successes are born out of the government successfully harnessing the countries entrepreneurial spirt and innate creativity.

As China continues to grow there is an apparent tension between the perpetual success of the country above all else versus the success of the individual. These portraits reflect the unmistakable style, confidence and independence of China’s youth.

Shot on the streets of Shanghai, all images have been shared with the subjects via wechat.