Beijing Fashion Week Roundup: Kilts, Cults & Rhinestones

While Western luxury brands are currying favor from Chinese consumers left and right, China Fashion Week always serves as a stark reminder that we still have a long way to go. Still, CFW Fall/Winter 2012 – again sponsored by Mercedes-Benz – kicked off to more public interest than ever before on March 24 and concluded with a lavish closing party last Sunday, April 1. A total of 41 fashion shows took place during that time; we have rounded up photos from all the top fashion shows and parties below.

Local designer Wang Yutao showed his label Beauty Berry on a runway which shared space with a sleek silver Mercedes-Benz. AnyWearStyle wrote that his latest collection evokes a “devilish Dorian Gray opulence,” with such noteworthy pieces as tasseled slip-on loafers, fur-lined jackets and even kilts.

Maosuit also had positive things to say about She Guang Hu’s show later that week. The fashion blogger points out that CFW can be “completely random,” yet never ceases to surprise and delight him. He also notes that 2012 sees the emergence of the “cult of the fashion designer.”

Besides runway shows, Fashion Week is also a popular time to host store openings or parties (see our CFW 2011 post). Sergio Rossi celebrated the launch of another Beijing branch on March 29, this time in Sanlitun Village North.

On March 31, Chu Yan (楚艳) and Zhang Jing (张晶) put on a multi-dimensional performance of costumes, music and visuals aiming to “revisit the traditional way of life for Chinese literati.” Chu Yan was among the Top 10 Fashion Designers of China 2011 as well as the Golden Prize winner of UNESCO DESIGN 21 International Competition.

And finally, Mercedes-Benz CFW’s closing event featuring Versace’s S/S 2012 collection as well as the launch of ELLE China’s new semi-monthly edition was the biggest affair that week – one of the few that actually drew a handful of famous local celebrities and models. According to Jing Daily, beverage sponsor G. H. Mumm was “rumored to have contributed over RMB 500,000 (USD 79,391) worth of champagne.”

Despite CFW’s earnest efforts and fun festivities, Beijing still cannot compete with other Fashion Weeks around the world – either in terms of repute or cachet. As Red Luxury noted, “Few Chinese A-list celebrities and fashion editors attended. Compare this to the recent Paris Fashion Week where a number of A-list Chinese actresses sat front row.” Jing Daily added that the majority of Chinese designers’ collections shown throughout CFW “wandered far from conveying any understanding of haute couture, and rather revealed their desire to appease a generalized and newly wealthy population captivated by lacy frills and rhinestones galore.” However, all applauded the efforts of Mercedes-Benz to bring funding and international acclaim to the still-developing event. We look forward to seeing CFW grow in Beijing in years to come.

Visit our gallery to see more photos from CFW.

Photos: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz, MaoSuit, Sergio Rossi and Shili Chunqiu