About Us

The creation of the naked concept...   Grant Horsfield, Founder of the “naked concept” has been in Shanghai for a little over 2 years. Originating from South Africa where nature is so accessible, he soon found the rhythm of the metropolis a little too overwhelming.  He then started to explore the outskirts of Shanghai in search for the familiar nature he was lacking in the city. On these trips he began to realize the beauty that China beholds within it, that China is more than just smog and the tooting of horns. However, the problem was that these places were difficult to find, not very accessible and couldn’t always provide the comfort wanted on a weekend away. Grant decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to provide city dwellers with a peaceful and relaxing weekend getaway. However, that was all it was, an opportunity, until he met Gabriela Lo, Managing Director of naked retreats. With great experience in the exhibitions and events industry, nobody understood better than Gabriela the need for this retreat to become a reality. Stuck in the urban jungle that is Shanghai, Gabriela longed for a way to get back to nature. Having already spent time relaxing in the serene Moganshan, she already knew it was a place she wanted to keep returning. The seeds of this idea had just begun to take root in her mind when the two met. With her background in events, and her love of nature it was only natural for the two to quickly establish a connection and within a month, houses were being renovated and office being set up. But no team would be complete without an operations manager. Evan Lai joined the team and became the third musketeer. An indispensable part of naked, Evan provides inspiration and motivation for all team members. Also hailing from South Africa she too yearned for wide open spaces and green and lush living. Spending much time out in the villages, Evan has charmed all of the locals with her delightful nature and winning personality, creating a work environment that is harmonious for all. With their meeting, idle thoughts became a reality. naked retreats became a functioning company and most importantly a lifestyle.