The Next Vera Wang?: Chinese Designers to Watch

These days, all eyes are on China – especially Western brands looking to promote themselves overseas. But is it too early to tell, or are they beginning to face some unlikely competition?

Young up-and-coming Chinese designers are fast gaining international appeal. The Shanghai-based Uma Wang, who studied at Central Saint Martins, received the Audi Progress in Design Award early this month. (Jing Daily points out that celebrated Asian American designer Phillip Lim won last year, so this is no small honor.) According to her website, her designs are renowned for signature knitting techniques, high quality and “collections that always balance fashion with functionality.” You can find them at Sanlitun Village North’s BNC and Wudaoying Hutong’s Dong Liang Studio. Pictures from her Fall/Winter 2011 collection, below.

Another popular Wang, Vega Zaishi Wang, just unveiled her fifth line to the public a couple weeks ago. She’s a Beijinger favorite (read our former articles here and here), and often lauded by style media as well as fashion-minded celebrities like Fan Bingbing. She also graduated from Central Saint Martins, and once worked as assistant to the likes of Vivenne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Her aesthetic is sleek: all sharp, minimalist cuts and interesting draping. Her latest collection, “Heart of Gold,” was inspired by Russian prisoner tattoo culture.

Zhang Chi is an emerging menswear talent whose pieces have already been well-received in the UK and Japan. He recently held a “Haute Couture Party” at D-Park in 798 Art District, where he showed his Fall/Winter 2011 collection. While some may find his collections too avant-garde – gas masks and S&M leather tights are difficult to pull off for everyday wear – no one could call them boring.

Jing Daily has a more comprehensive list of China's promising talent; click here to read more.

BNC. Daily 10am-10pm. NLG-09a, Sanlitun Village North, Chaoyang District (6416 9045) 朝阳区三里屯Village北区地下1层NLG-09

Dong Liang Studio. Daily 11am-9pm. 26 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District (8404 7648) 东城区五道营胡同26号

Vega Zaishi Wang. Daily 10am-7pm. Unit 662, B/1F, Bldg 6, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (5900 2279) 朝阳区东三环中路建外Soho6号楼B/1层662店

Photos courtesy of Uma Wang, Vega Zaishi Wang and China Fashion Net