Wang Peiyi, the 'goddess maker'

A model presents a creation by Wang Peiyi. Photo provided to China Daily

Known as the "goddess maker", Wang Peiyi has dressed everyone from Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi and Fan Bingbing to Cindy Crawford.

He showed his 2015 spring and summer collection in Beijing recently as part of China Fashion Week. Best known for his couture creations and wedding gowns, Wang for the first time put together his nascent ready-to-wear line Alex Wang and the established couture line Wang Peiyi in one show, as he seeks to build a more accessible brand.

"I never thought my designs should be collected in museums. They are only enlivened when worn by someone," says Wang.

Named Shape of the Shadow, the two collections explore the dynamic beauty of light and shadow, which came into his vision when he was on a vacation in the tropics during summer.

"You see shadows countless times in your life, but it doesn't grab you each time. And at one particular moment when I saw the shadows of the leaves on a plant, I was suddenly struck by its beauty," he says.

The ready-to-wear line is inspired by the shadows in the day, with short dresses, leather jackets and sporty sweaters. While it retains the delicate handicraft details of the label's tradition, it has simpler lines and is more wearable and comfortable for a regular day.