Chinese fashion brands in London Fashion Week: The new Chinese presence

In recent years, more and more up-and-coming Chinese designers have made notable appearances at the four major international fashion weeks. The influence of Chinese designers is growing in the global fashion design world. During the Spring/Summer 2017 (SS17) London Fashion Week, busy Chinese designers could be spotted everywhere, from showrooms to exhibition spaces. Luxe.CO's London correspondent explores the presence of the newly emerging Chinese fashion designers.

Steven Tai

This was Canadian-Chinese designer Steven Tai’s first appearance at London Fashion Week. His show was certainly a breath of fresh air. Models adorned with simple but elegant outfits gently swung to the music while having relaxed conversations. Their round-framed glasses were intriguing accessories and added a sense of student-like innocence. The innovative installation almost led the audience to forget the intense nature of the fashion week.

However, such an arrangement was not without its dangers. We overheard the director warning the models not to swing too high to ensure that they didn’t collide with the walls in the narrow showroom.

Tai told us that he had already made London his home and was very excited about attending London Fashion Week, because the city is a diverse, innovative metropolis with a challenging fashion industry.

Huishan Zhang

Designer Huishan Zhang is from Qingdao. He has attended London Fashion Week on several occasions, but this was his first solo show, and it attracted a considerate amount of attention. His showroom took on a classic vibe that complemented the feminine charm of his designs.

Ryan Lo

Designer Ryan Lo comes from Hong Kong. The highlight of his design for SS17 was a cap collection, produced in collaboration with Stephen Jones. The colorful caps were full of dramatic elements. Inspired by childhood fantasies, this collection was unique and refreshing.

(Images courtesy of Ryan Lo)

Xu Zhi

Chinese designer Xuzhi Chen, shortlisted for the LVMH Prize in 2016, also exhibited his designs for SS17 (albeit not as part of the official schedule). The decoration of his exhibition space was inspired by nature, with models stationed among plants. The show’s jewellery was sponsored by the London jewellery designers Lion Studio.

A to G

Fashion Scout is the showcase for up-and-coming independent fashion designers. Chinese underwear brand A to G worked with womenswear brand ANNDERSTAND to create an opportunity for an underwear brand, otherwise rarely represented, to shine at London Fashion Week.

(From left to right: A to G founder Yingying Zhou, Fashion Scout Founder Martyn Roberts and ANNDERSTAND founder Ge Yu)

(Image courtesy of A to G)

Fun Affair

Having graduated from the London College of Fashion, Cece Zhu presented Fun Affair’s designs for the new season via Fashion Scout.

London Fashion Week Designer Showrooms

The Designer Showrooms provide a space for designers to exhibit the actual outfits to fashion buyers, and offer a chance of media exposure away from the runway. For the SS17 London Fashion Week, the showrooms were located at the Brewer Street car park in Soho.

(Image above: Chinese designer brand Angel Chen’s exhibition hall)

(Image above: Up-and coming desinger Rengli Su during fashion week)

Meitu Social House

During the SS17 London Fashion Week, famed Chinese Internet Company Meitu partnered with Fashion and Beauty Monitor to organize events in the neighbourhood of the fashion week showrooms in Soho. They transformed a small, intimate gallery into a 'Social House' to promote the app 'BeautyPlus', taking advantage of the momentum of Fashion Week.

Meitu not only live-streamed the fashion shows on the large screen onsite, but also set up nail and make-up counters catering to fashion bloggers, and encouraged them to take as many selfies as possible.