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With few exceptions, Chinese designers have struggled to break through on the international stage despite domestic success. Tonight, over champagne and canapés, entrepreneur and Yu Prize founder Wendy Yu hopes to bridge the gap, with a new event on the official Paris Fashion Week calendar that aims to introduce industry stakeholders to the next generation of Chinese design.
The event “The New Wave of Chinese Fashion”, held at Hotel Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris, brings together 11 Chinese designers, all finalists of the first and second editions of the Yu Prize, as international press and buyers attend Paris Fashion Week . It is produced in collaboration with industry professionals such as Renzo Rosso, Chairman of OTB Group; Madame Lyu Xiaolei, Secretary General of Shanghai Fashion Week; and Pascal Morand, executive chairman of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de La Mode. For some designers, it is their first venture into Europe since China’s last pandemic lockdowns were lifted earlier this year.
“Paris is the center of the fashion world, so it is very natural for us, especially after Covid, to showcase these great designers on the international stage,” said Yu, who spoke from Monaco a few days before the event. “It is important for us to show industry leaders, stakeholders and the media their work and give them more recognition and more opportunities to develop their growth and their brands in the future.”
Yu invited all finalists from previous editions of the Yu Prize to the cocktail event, as well as the designers from Didu-Didu, Private Policy, 8ON8, Louis Shengtao Chen, Marrknull, Ming Ma, Ruohan, Windowsen, Shuting Qiu, At-One- Ment and Yueqi Qi will be present.
Yu, a longtime entrepreneur and investor who funds fashion, beauty and technology companies through her company Yu Holdings, created the Yu Prize in 2020 to help emerging Chinese brands achieve international success. Winners will receive a cash prize of RMB 1 million, guidance from top industry professionals and the opportunity to sell their wares at Harrods. Chen Peng, the 2021 winner, designed the outfits for the Beijing Winter Olympics and collaborated with Moncler. Both Chen Peng and 2022 winner Ponder.Er are at Harrods and have presented at the Fédération’s Sphere showroom for emerging designers. The next Yu Prize will be awarded in early 2024.
