Chinese haute couturier Guo Pei is set to host a runway show at the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week from July 2-6, according to a temporary schedule released on the federation’s official website.
As the queen of haute couture design in China, Guo Pei is also the only invited Chinese designer to the event (invitations are made by Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture), joining a group of high-profile fashion designers around the world, including Zuhair Murad, Valentino, Elie Saab and Maison Margiela.
The upcoming Fall/Winter Haute Couture Fashion Show marks the fourth time that Guo Pei has presented her collection on that internationally renowned platform. She debuted her collection in January 2016 when she was awarded honorary couture status by the governing body of French fashion industry, becoming the second fashion designer born and raised in Asia to receive that designation, following the Lebanese couturier Elie Saab.
Though Guo previously designed costumes for celebrities including Lady Gaga and Zhang Ziyi, she earned international recognition when she dressed the American pop culture icon Rihanna for the 2015 China-themed Met Gala with an extravagant yellow gown, which took the designer two years to complete.
Guo Pei has recently attempted to establish her footprint in the North American market as well. As per a story in the U.S. fashion website Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) in May, Guo has been actively seeking partners to help her open a store in New York. The same report also said that she would exhibit her work at the Savannah College of Art and Design this fall. In addition, Guo is in touch with Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple, to explore a partnership that would result in a design for a special iWatch.
A Beijing-born designer, Guo Pei has taken the inspiration from the royal court style of ancient Chinese dynasties. She's known for her embroidery techniques and her use of fine and exotic materials like silk and fur.