Backstage looks from Huishan Zhang's S/S 2015 collection featuring Swarovski crystals. (Courtesy Photo) Following in the footsteps of Alexander McQueen, top Chinese designers Masha Ma and Huishan Zhang teamed up with Swarovski for their spring/summer 2015 collections as part of the jeweler’s program to support emerging designers. Joining the official lineups of London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week, Zhang and Ma embellished their designs with Swarovski crystals as part of their participation in The Swarovski Collective, a designer support program started in 1999 after an initial collaboration with a young McQueen. This year, the two Chinese designers were joined by 13 other popular young labels such as Prabal Gurung, Rodarte, Creatures of the Wind, and Iris Van Herpen in the program. A backstage photo of Masha Ma's Swarovski-embellished looks for her S/S 2015 collection recently shown at Paris Fashion Week. (Courtesy Photo) For his collection shown at London Fashion Week, Zhang added the crystals to his collection inspired by the abstract paintings of Fiona Rae, featuring a color palate of tan, pale pink, yellow, and dusky blue on fabrics including jacquards, cotton shirting, laces, and organza fringing. “For this summer season, we’re trying some very playful crystal embellishment techniques; it’s really great that the Swarovski Collective can support that kind of innovation and excitement in design,” said the designer. Meanwhile, Ma’s sportswear-style contemporary collection inspired by an “urban garden” explored biospherical elements at her Paris Fashion Week show. “Since last season, the Swarovski Collective has shown great support for the development of my collection and offered many fantastic opportunities to present my work,” she said, mentioning her participation in the program for a previous collection. The Collective not only supports rising young design stars with year-long financial support, but it also provides them with the chance to win its €25,000 Swarovski Collective Award for Innovation. Look below for more photos from the collections: Swarovski crystal gowns by Huishan Zhang. (Courtesy Photo) A crystal-studded pollution mask by Masha Ma. (Courtesy Photo) Crystal brooches by Huishan Zhang. (Courtesy Photo) A crystal-studded skirt by Masha Ma. (Courtesy Photo)
