China’s Emerging Fashion Design Powerhouses

Zhang Chi

Avant-garde menswear designer Zhang Chi is known for his meticulous tailoring and close attention to detail. His last collection was “revolution-inspired,” with designs interpreting the concept of “liberation through manual labor,” according to Yitrends. While his collections may be too edgy for most, Zhang Chi has gained a loyal following, with his creations available in the UK, Japan, and, of course, China.

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Lu Liu

Lu Liu is a womenswear designer who looks to highlight a Chinese sense of beauty, with a stated desire to dress the modern and cosmopolitan Chinese woman. Having had previous experience as a stylist in New York, Lu Liu has unique insight in what fashion is in New York as well as what it is in China, where she now designs and runs a boutique.

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NE-Tiger

Jing Daily has kept an eye on NE-Tiger for some time now, as the brand has made an impact at China’s fashion shows and its iconoclastic founder Zhang Zhifeng has become an outspoken advocate for domestic Chinese luxury brands. Zhang now heads one of the fastest-growing fashion houses in China and is known for his haute couture collections, as well as his elaborate evening gowns imbued with Chinese design elements.

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Hong Kong

Barney Cheng

Barney Cheng is hailed as “Hong Kong’s biggest designer,” with a glam aesthetic that draws many local celebrities and socialites. His Hong Kong-based atelier, Yenrabi, produces couture, daywear and evening wear.

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Alex Wang

Not to be confused with New York’s Alexander Wang, Hong Kong designer Alex Wang’s creations echo the extravagance of his peer Barney Cheng.  Employing intricate beading and embroidery, Wang’s designs are a regular sight at red carpet events.

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Trends

Chinese designers seem to be split into a few movements, informed by a handful of emerging trends. The first, which encompasses designers like Zhang Zhifeng of NE-Tiger and Jenny Ji of La Vie fall into the “East meets West” trend, following older fashion houses like Shanghai Tang or, to a lesser extent, JNBY.

Another trend is the Beijing-Shanghai split. While Shanghai fashion designers seem to prefer the deconstructed, with a particular focus on draping and quirky shapes, Beijing designers agonize over careful tailoring and severe colors. With China’s Fashion Weeks coming up and Chinese creativity now firmly in the spotlight, Chinese designers now have a platform from which to prove themselves to the international fashion world and broadcast their often uncelebrated talent.

Chinese Creativity: Who Are The Emerging Designers? originally appeared on Jing Daily and is republished on Signature9 with permission.