A model sashays down the runway in one of Sing Chin Lo's looks during China Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014. Photo: Courtesy of the Asahi Kasei Award

China Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014 uncorked a bubbly display of bright colors and glamorous runway looks last weekend. Besides the big names of the domestic fashion industry such as Simon Gao and Zhang Zhifeng, many younger designers shared the spotlight and camera flashes of the event.

Showcasing new talent is one of the key aspects of China Fashion Week, and is done through awards and competitions. Many young talents have been discovered this way, such as Shi Jie and Dorian Ho.

Winner's circle

Last Sunday evening, the Asahi Kasei Chinese Fashion Designer Creativity Award 2014 winner was announced: Sing Chin Lo from Hong Kong.

Lo is the second Hong Kong winner of the award since Hong Kong contestants were included in the competition last year.

Lo graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design and previously won the Young Talent Award issued by the Hong Kong Fashion Design Association in 2005. That same year, he was selected for the Tokyo New Designer Fashion Grand Prix. In 2007, he founded his own fashion brand, PLOTZ.

"He is young, talented and competitive. His design language is international," said Li Dangqi, president of the China Fashion Association, during a press conference.

Inspired by nature

Lo's inspiration comes from forms found in nature. In line with this theme, the stage was a geometric shape similar to a honeycomb.

His collection can be split into two sections, while both present a series of clean, architectural layers of fabric contrasted with punchy hues of yellow and pink.

"The use and development of material is the most important aspect in my design and my first consideration," Lo said. "Texture and comfort especially make a huge impact on the final design."

The second part of his runway show included vibrant floral patterns interwoven with muted grays and blacks, adding a pop of youthfulness to the collection.

"People who wear them would have a strong sense of self," Lo said at the press conference.

The looks all cater to an eco-friendly and nature-inspired lifestyle that was also prevalent in China Fashion Week's Autumn/Winter 2013 shows. 



Designer Xie Feng told the Global Times earlier this year that such a trend indicates that after years of eager consumption, people are beginning to think about the environment and the way they live.

Looking to history

Design awards have become an increasingly important part of searching for fresh, new talent in the Chinese fashion industry.

What makes such awards so valuable to China Fashion Week is that many younger designers show their understanding of how to tastefully combine old and new - modern urban life meets traditional Chinese culture.

Early this year, the top winner of the Hempel Award at the 21st China International Young Fashion Designers Contest, Wang Zhixian, caught a lot of attention from the media by using bamboo chips as her fabric and creating several very visionary all-white looks.

Previous winners of the Asahi Kasei Chinese Fashion Designer Creativity Award that also drew from Chinese culture for inspiration include Wang Yutao with his creations based on old Beijing scenery, Shi Jie with calligraphy-infused designs and Liu Wei's "ink painting on the garment."

These designers have made Chinese elements more modern by incorporating international design.