Support and recognition for domestic designers on the rise

Thanks to strong local support and the pursuit of individualism and creativity instead of copying the creations of more established brands, Chinese designers now enjoy more recognition from their international peers, according to the Chinese design community.

"Chinese designers used to have a bad reputation because there was a lack of originality in the past. But platforms like Labelhood and Shanghai Fashion Week have banded together independent designers who believe in originality to correct this perception," says Caroline Hu.

Hu could be seen as the beacon of creativity that illustrates the reality of the Chinese fashion scene today. Despite this being her first outing at SFW where she was showcasing her debut collection, Hu won the inaugural Business of Fashion China Prize.

Born in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the New York-based Chinese designer thanked Labelhood, an incubator for emerging Chinese fashion designers, and retailer Lane Crawford for playing a key role in her success.

"To prepare for a show is costly. I used up most of my budget to launch my collection at New York Fashion Week in February. Thankfully, Lane Crawford and Labelhood provided me with support to showcase my collection again at SFW. These two companies have been providing many opportunities for new designers to exhibit their works to the world," says Hu, who graduated from Central Saint Martins and the Parsons School of Design.

"I never imagined that I would get so much attention for my first collection. Many top publications, such as Vogue and i-D magazine, professionals and buyers came to view my collection. It surprised me that they aren't ignoring new Chinese designers."