China Fashion Week has less than spectacular showing

By Liao Danlin Source:Global Times Published: 2015-4-1 18:18:01

A model showcases Hu Sheguang's clothing designs during the China Fashion Week Autumn/Winter in Beijing on March 28. Photo: CFP

China Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015-2016 came to an end Wednesday. The autumn/winter season often has less to show than the spring/summer season as many brands only present one show. Entering its 18th year, it seems that the show has become less important year after year as many have noticed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to surprise fashion editors and fashion bloggers. 

However, the event still managed to attract over 40 brands and organizations and more than 100 designers to participate in the show this year. Over half of these were participating for the first time.

End of the year trends

Established designers retained their quality. Wang Yutao's Beautyberry line brought the energetic concept of "Dance with you" to the show. Taking inspiration from hippie fashion, the line uses elements such as high waists, tunics and fur accessories to emphasize the female form. The combination of floral patterns and tassels was also a highlight of the show.

Fan Ran has been a delight to watch since she first participated in China Fashion Week last year. This season's works came from her experiences traveling in Thailand. Her clothing's bright colors made the show particularly exotic but still demonstrated traditional Eastern aesthetics in silhouette.

Zeng Fengfei's show as usual played with traditional Chinese cultural elements. Titled Mural Art, this season's show was inspired by the famous Buddhist art found it the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. It featured clothing with silky textured fabric and delicate details.

There were also several shows that were following the trends set in Milan and other fashion weeks. Chen Wen's D'Nim denim collection borrowed elements largely from Dolce & Gabbana, whereas the ILOVECHOC collection also hit the runway with familiar items that you can find at other fashion weeks.

Young and old

Invited designers were not really bringing their A game this year. Hu Sheguang, whose show made 79-year-old actor/model Wang Deshun a popular name on social media this week, showed off an interesting but frustrating line. 

It seemed Hu's intention was to use old-fashioned wadded jackets and big red or green floral patterns to call back to people's childhoods. Unfortunately, his designs didn't invoke many sweet memories.

"His show tells us that art not only comes from life but also ugliness. The patterns looked like some sort of skin condition that had infected the models from head to toe. It looked harder to cure than tinea," wrote popular fashion blogger Gogoboi on Sina Weibo.

Wang Deshun became the hottest topic of this year's China Fashion Week as he walked half-naked on stage with his 30-year-old looking body and his long white hair. He was probably the show's saving grace, since people who did not actually go see Hu's line probably only saw pictures of Wang walking the runway wearing only trousers and showing off his bare masculine chest.

Children's lines also generated quite a bit of buzz on social media. JNBY Children's Collection as well as Liu Jia's COMME TU ES Liu Jia Parent-child Outfit Collection both offered lovely shows as kids walked the runway with confidence. The shows were a reflection of the growing potential of the children's wear market in China.

New generation

For famous designers as well as top celebrities that are able to attend Paris or Milan Fashion Week, China Fashion Week is no longer an essential event anymore.

On the other hand, for new designers and brands just getting their start the show is still a great platform to show the world their work. This year 70 percent of participants were attending the show for the first time, which may explain why the quality of their work is less than fascinating.

Whether these new designers will become a stepping stone for further growth or an obstacle that keeps China Fashion Week from expanding will most likely depend on if these new designers can truly find a way to show off their potential.


Newspaper headline: Spotlight Off


Posted in: Fashion

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