China Fashion Week: NE.Tiger Showcases 2011 Haute Couture Collection

On October 25, 2010, NE.Tiger kicked off China Fashion Week in Beijing with a clear message: China’s traditional styles, materials and patterns are good enough for couture.

If you haven’t heard of the brand before, that’s because it got its start right here in China, and has only recently become one of this country’s fastest-growing fashion houses. Founded by Zhang Zhifeng in 1992, NE.Tiger can also (arguably) claim the title as one of the first Chinese luxury brands.

Zhang’s decision to showcase his 2011 Haute Couture collection at the Golden Hall of the Beijing Hotel was significant: the atmosphere was decidedly Chinese, and not only in terms of architecture.

Serene Chinese tunes rang out as the audience, predominantly Chinese, filed into their seats (which were arranged by Chinese elements).

After a brief waiting period, the thundering sound of a heartbeat came on to announce the beginning of the show. A slow and deliberate entrance of a woman – clad in a long black and white silk evening gown with a dragon emblem – further heightened the intrigue for the outfits to come.

Unfortunately, our anticipation was interrupted by a series of cheap, clanging metal sounds and bright colors on the stage screen – I felt, suddenly, like I’d been trapped in a video game.

I was relieved when the “film” finally broke off, and the collection – inspired by the Chinese zodiac and based on the ancient Chinese sexagenary cycle – finally began. Here are just a couple of the outfits below.

As you can see, it was all about bright colors, intricate Chinese embroidery traditions and, as always, the commingling of the ancient with the contemporary, the East with the West.

You might have your doubts. Glitter in the hair? Yikes. Not to mention sparkles, gaudy colors and tiered skirts. None of this sounds all that appealing to our Western sensibilities, but we also can’t pretend not to have admiration for Zhang’s courage to play by his own rules.

At one point, trickling water sounds accompanied a barrage of seafoam blue dresses. There was a real connection to nature, and a real emphasis on the environmental and the historical – all refreshing developments for this new brand that demonstrates its confidence in relying purely on the allure of China, and little else.

Look for our interview with the man himself – the founder and chief art director of NE.Tiger, Zhang Zhifeng – in our upcoming December issue. And if you're interested in purchasing the clothes, visit their website for store locations.