The global fashion industry has been booming since time immemorial. But while huge cities such as Paris, Milan and London have always been topping the charts and dominating the global fashion sphere, designers from Hong Kong are beginning to shift away from their influence, drawing fashion inspirations closer to home.
With China’s increasing supremacy in the world today, several local designers have decided to tap onto their Chinese roots and heritage as fashion reference to devise alluring pieces in their respective collections.
- Kay Li
An apt illustration would be the old Chinese tradition associated with arranged marriage in the past. Back then during the imperial China period, you’d only get to meet your spouse on the day you wed. Sounds absurd, but it was a reality for many Chinese women, who were thrown with feelings of uncertainty, excitement and anxiety. Local designer Kay Li tried to encapsulate just that in her latest designs in her Autumn/Winter 2017 collection, “The Great Expectation” which was featured in Copenhagen Fashion Week.
It is a perfect juxtaposition of both traditional and modern elements, joy and fear. Laser-cut dresses, long tunics, blouses and trousers are donned with patterns that resemble traditional Chinese window panels. Bright colors like red and blue symbolizes the merry festivity, while high-neck blouses and tight waist tunics emulates the oppression that Chinese women used to face.
2. Cynthia & Xiao
Cynthia & Xiao’s collection, on the other hand, were less bleak. It was showcased during New York Fashion Week, featuring an array of knitwear with large graphic motifs that resembles Chinese ornaments. Several unique animal prints were also inspired from the traditional Chinese Zodiac animals, like rabbits and tigers. Even their footwear bear a resemblance to ancient Chinese shoes!
3. Yat Pit
YAT PIT is a brand by local designers On-ying Lai and Jason Mui. This pair aims to bridge the gap between the ‘lost’ Chinese youth of today and their Chinese culture through fashion. From traditional Chinese fastening to wide and loose pants, even their photography has an interesting story to tell about the Chinese heritage. Many have applaud these designers for their boldness and creativity.
4. Loom Loop
Popo Ho and Melancholiandy found a unique heritage Cantonese fabric and decided to mash it with contemporary designs. This fabric is unique in the sense that it used to be popular in the past, but has since been forgotten in light of all developments in fashion materials. Silk, as we all know, are not commonly used in clothes today, compared to cotton or polyester. Their Autumn/Winter 2017 collection named “The Separated Lovers”, tells the famous Chinese folktale of “The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd”, best known as 牛郎织女.
All of the above mentioned collections are beautiful in that they are able to stay relevant to the fast-paced fashion world today, and at the same time, not forget their Chinese roots and origins. This is definitely a tough feat to achieve, and thus should be deemed as a great cause of celebration among the Chinese people.
