Asian designers make history at the 2025 Oscars

As HBO’s The White Lotus Season 3 continues to captivate audiences — amassing 10.2 million U.S. viewers in its first week, a 92% increase from its Season 2 premiere — one of its newest stars made a striking debut at the Oscars. Blackpink’s Lisa, who joined the hit show’s cast this season, chose a bold tuxedo-inspired gown by Chinese designer Mark Gong for her first appearance at the 97th Academy Awards. This high-profile moment signaled a significant breakthrough for Chinese fashion design on Hollywood’s most prestigious red carpet, part of a growing trend of Asian creative influence in global entertainment. Fashion houses from China and beyond made their mark at the Oscars. Kendall Jenner wore a Chinoiserie-inspired look reworked from Mugler’s 1992 archive. Jing Daily analyzes the influence of artist-founded maison Sauvereign and designers Mark Gong, Robert Wun, and Xander Zhou at one of the year’s most-watched global events. Subscribe here to receive collaboration and partnership news every Tuesday straight to your inbox. Mark Gong x Lisa from Blackpink Details: Custom James Bond-inspired tuxedo gown for the Oscars Social context: #lisaoscarredcarpet look (#lisa奥斯卡红毯造型) has 2.5 million reads on Weibo. Verdict: Prevalent in the music industry, Shanghai’s Mark Gong has previously designed for other Blackpink stars in the past like Jennie and Rosé, and Lisa, too. The innovative tuxedo-inspired gown showcases Mark Gong’s unique design aesthetic, and shows how the rise of K-pop could go hand-in-hand with the rise of Chinese fashion design. Though seven years old, Mark Gong’s brand is yet to gain international mainstream recognition (outside of fashion). Yet, events such as the Oscars are broadening exposure. Being associated with a global star like Lisa, as part of her Oscars debut, enhances Mark Gong’s reputation and positions the brand as a preferred choice among top-tier celebrities and influencers. Xander Zhou x Edvin Ryding Details: Spring 2025 blaze Social context: #xanderzhou has 1.5 million views on Xiaohongshu. Verdict: The integration of a plaid sash from Beijing-based Sean Suen into Xander Zhou’s blazer design harmoniously blended Eastern and Western fashion elements, reflecting a globalized aesthetic. Swedish actor Ryding’s choice of Beijing-based Xander Zhou, one of China’s most celebrity-beloved talents, elevates the designer’s profile in mainstream media. Zhou also recently dressed Estonian rapper Tommy Cash. Ryding’s regal and coquette-inspired outfit challenges traditional masculine dress codes, highlighting a shift towards more expressive and diverse representations of menswear. Robert Wun x Bretman Rock Details: Bronze custom gown featuring fluid drapes and pleats Social context: Bretman Rock has 3,900 followers on Xiaohongshu, and #BretmanRock has 124,900 reads. He has 18.8 million followers on Instagram, and Robert Wun has 751,000. Verdict: This partnership champions Asian culture, showcasing how the continent’s designers and influencers can collaborate to create unique fashion narratives that resonate widely. By aligning with a prominent LGBTQ+ figure like Rock, a Filipino-American beauty influencer and social media personality, Wun’s brand reinforces its commitment to inclusivity and diversity, appealing to a broader and more varied audience on a global scale. Rock’s endorsement of Wun’s avant-garde designs enhances his own fashion credibility while simultaneously elevating the latter’s visibility in the fashion industry, and demonstrating the reciprocal benefits of such collaborations. Sauvereign x Brady Corbet (director of ‘The Brutalist’) Details: Bespoke Endeavours Brooch Social context: Sauvereign has 13,000 followers on Instagram. Verdict: Sauvereign’s presence at consecutive Oscars ceremonies (as seen on Cillian Murphy in 2024) highlights the growing influence of Hong Kong’s luxury craftsmanship, and reinforces the city’s status as a hub for high-end artisanal design. The Endeavours Brooch exemplifies how contemporary jewelry can serve as both an artistic statement and a narrative device, merging the worlds of film and fashion to create deeper cultural resonance. Drawing inspiration from Yugoslavian Brutalist monuments, Sauvereign demonstrates how to merge historical and architectural references in jewelry design.

Asian designers make history at the 2025 Oscars

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Published March 04, 2025

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Asian designers make history at the 2025 Oscars