On Friday night, one of London Fashion Week’s buzziest events on the schedule took place: the Central Saint Martins MA show. Known for having nurtured some of the industry’s most powerful trailblazers, including John Galliano, Lee Alexander McQueen, and Kim Jones, the university’s runway is always pregnant with hope for the birth of the next generation of creative directors.
Out of the 21 designers presenting a grand total of 126 looks, China came up strong with four highly talented names set to continue the mainland’s representation within the global industry.
Flora Kejia XU#
Taking inspiration from commuters, Flora Kejia Xu’s Fall 2024 collection was a fresh serving of contemporary tailoring. The core concept was "modern nomads" in the workplace, "where mobility meets professionalism."
The Shandong-born designer told Jing Daily, “I tried lots of Chinese traditional techniques for my previous work. In this collection, I have been more focused on the core of the Chinese aesthetic ‘trust the simplistic.’ A blank page can sometimes unleash the imagination.”
Yanya Cheng#
Selected as one of the four winners of the Dr Martens 1460 Boot x Central Saint Martins MA Fashion collaboration, Yanya Cheng’s collection featured the custom footwear.
The collection was a concoction of unconventional ways of wearing garments, toying with craft, garment structure, and patterns to produce unusual fits.
Joyce Bao#
Chinese-American designer Joyce Bao combines velvet, silk, and sheer fabrics, crafting a symbol of her own experience of femininity.
Named as one of British Vogue’s five genius graduates, her distinct aesthetic embodies contemporary sex appeal and elegant sophistication. Bao has a jam-packed CV already, having interned with Calvin Klein, Coach, The Row, and Vaquera.
Zhuoran Liu#
Beijing-born London-based Zhuoran Liu does not hail from a typical fashion background, having studied sculpture for five years previously. Now a menswear designer, that education in sculpture manages to infiltrate each piece.
“Delicate lace details express the fragile aspects of my personality, juxtaposed with metal elements to introduce contrast against the soft fabrics. Ultimately, this project is a reflection of myself, as I believe sculpture is an integral part of my life story," said the designer in a statement.