Shanghai Fashion Week, Part 1

So I know I'm super late by blogging standards with regard to reporting on Shanghai Fashion Week, but whatever, SFW itself was late by international fashion standards (April 8 - April 13 for FW10... what??!?).

Despite its relative tardiness, I would have to say that it was leaps and bounds above last year's SFW... This year's highlights are numerous, rather than the singular Jiang Ling whom I praised last time for her collection.

In addition to Jiang Ling, this SFW featured designers like Uma Wang, Chen Ping (Pari Chen), Coko Wan, and some newcomers that are promising like Nio and Angela Chen. However, today I only have time to introduce you to the opening show for SFW by some sort of internet "fashion" retail outlet, which put my hopes for SFW at a very low starting point...

I don't know what the connection between this blue girl and fashion is, but I'm citing this as yet another reason why no one takes SFW seriously, let alone fashion as an industry in China.




There will be other, more positive posts to come in the near future, so come back!

The Chinese Riviera

So I didn't know that China had a tropical island until circa 3 days ago, but I got invited to show at the Hainan Rendezvous and couldn't refuse the opportunity. I guess it was something of a "Billionaire's Fair", where they sold private jets (Airbus, Boeing, Cessna, AirJet, etc. were all there), yachts, and other particular indulgences (art, cigars, champagne, etc.) However, I was more interested in the local culture (meaning fashion culture) more than the billionaire's fashion culture, although both proved to be interesting.

However, I am remiss to let you all know that my iPhone was stolen or lost in Sanya, which was where ALL my photos were of the weekend... The clothes were STUNNING on this island and at this event, some positively so and others not so much. It was interesting to see how the ideas and archetypes associated with islands/island culture/billionaires was interpreted by the locals and visitors alike, and I will certainly have to go back there when I get a new phone to give you a glimpse at some pretty phenomenal stuff and wild styles.

Anyway, I'm off to Tibet around April 16th to go and scout out "The Hope School" for child art talents that can help me create new fabrics to provide customized, artistic products to China's consumers (the proceeds go back into supporting the school and art education, and may also help support The Ailing Foundation). The collaboration will be announced in a more formal forum soon, but I can give you a quick preview of materials that will be launched as a part of the same collaboration.

Only one artist has already been confirmed for this project, but it is photographer-extraordinaire Maleonn. Check out his website for an idea of what is to come of this collaboration, but here is a special sneak peek at two fabrics by Maleonn:



The printed fabrics (starting in silk and cotton in limited quantities) will be used by Chinese designers like Jiang Ling, Nio, Angela Chen, and Angela Gao to create customized and exclusive products, and many of these designers will be showing at Shanghai Fashion Week (April 8-13)... I'll definitely review SFW as the shows pass, and I have higher expectations for this season, as there is better infrastructure being set up to truly help Chinese designers enter onto the world stage.