Support and recognition for domestic designers on the rise

Thanks to strong local support and the pursuit of individualism and creativity instead of copying the creations of more established brands, Chinese designers now enjoy more recognition from their international peers, according to the Chinese design community.

"Chinese designers used to have a bad reputation because there was a lack of originality in the past. But platforms like Labelhood and Shanghai Fashion Week have banded together independent designers who believe in originality to correct this perception," says Caroline Hu.

Hu could be seen as the beacon of creativity that illustrates the reality of the Chinese fashion scene today. Despite this being her first outing at SFW where she was showcasing her debut collection, Hu won the inaugural Business of Fashion China Prize.