Bagging a fortune with silk

Chinese Dream | Zhang Xi

Switching between architecture and fashion hasn't fazed one of the hottest personalities in China's haute couture scene.

Before she attended university, Zhang Xi was expected to follow in the footsteps of her artist father and become a traditional ink painter. Instead, the 35-year-old built a career as an accomplished architect, with a practice in Shanghai. However, her habit of playing with silk has also offered an entry to the world of fashion, and she's building a kingdom of silk bags.