Vogue’s Forces of Fashion Conference Decamps to Shanghai for the First Time

Chinese Designer prize finalist Yin Jingwei.

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Chinese Designer prize finalist Shie Lyu.

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The kick-off event was an invite-only runway presentation of the Vogue China Fashion Fund finalists, who presented their work on models from the glossy’s edition of Vogue Open Casting. Winners were announced immediately after the show. “The event made me proud to be a Chinese designer,” said Zhong Zixin, the winner of the Fund’s Chinese Designer Prize. “Vogue has created the perfect moment for us to be seen by the world. I’m really glad to receive the first award since Vogue Fashion Fund debuted in China,” the designer continued, adding that the most valuable lesson from the experience was the claritys it gave her about her work and what her brand stands for. Zixin took home 1 million Chinese Yuan, around $140,000, while Kong Yue, the winner of the Student Programme, received around $14,000.

Student Programme prize finalist Liwen Liang.

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Student Programme prize winner Kong Yue.

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Student Programme prize finalist Wu Yinghua.

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Student Programme prize finalist Zhu Kuan.

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Student Programme prize finalist Ashe.

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The following two days of the conference were open to the public, and featured a series of panels anchored by a conversation between Zhang and Anna Wintour, Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Condé Nast Global Editorial Director, about the future of the fashion industry and the magazine’s role in supporting emerging talent globally. This event was followed by a panel between Zhang and Du Juan, who is considered one of China’s first global supermodels, about the evolution of modeling; and a conversation between actor Gong Jun, designer Jason Wu, and embroidery master Kang Ning on the changing face of Asian representation in global fashion. The event also included a series of workshops on styling and Chinese craftsmanship, plus a PHOTOReplica Handbag Store showcase, live Vogue shoots for upcoming magazine stories, and a shoppable replica of Vogue China’s editorial fashion closet.

Du Juan and Margaret Zhang.

Courtesy of Vogue China.

Gong Jun and Jason Wu.

Courtesy of Vogue China.

The Courrèges designer Nicolas Di Felice and Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez also paid a visit to Shanghai to participate in panels. Di Felice discussed the synergy and symbiosis between music and style with singer Lexie Liu, DJ Bigloco, and Vogue China video lead Raymond Fu. He revealed that he sometimes composes fragments of the music for his own shows, having made music when he was younger.

Nicolas Di Felice, Lexie Liu, DJ Bigloco, and Raymond Fu.

Courtesy of Vogue China.

Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler.

Courtesy of Vogue China.

McCollough and Hernandez, on their end, participated in a conversation with model Cici Xiang ang Vogue+ editor Lily Chou. The Proenza Schouler designers were the first to win the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund back in 2003, and were able to see Vogue China crown its inaugural winners and offer some words of wisdom: “It’s important to cut out the noise and not get too influenced by what everyone thinks of you,” said McCollough. “That’s when you start catering to other people, as opposed to having a true, clean, clear vision for yourself.” Hernandez emphasized the importance of being consistent while continuing to offer novelty: “It’s confusing, and a lot of people fall into a trap,” said the designer. “We did when we were young. [...] We were kind of just all over the place, and it was okay then because there were fewer designers, but if we did that approach today, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

Scroll through for an inside-look at Replica Handbag Store China’s Forces of Fashion, including what guests wore to fit the dress code, which was Chinese designers.