THE stultifying humidity of midsummer Shanghai may not be many people's choice as a backdrop to show off an autumn-winter collection, but the teeming crowds near the city's Yu Gardens were certainly impressed.
Waiting for designer Flora Cheong-Leen and the photographer to scout another location, the gweilo assistant suddenly found himself in the middle of a sizeable crowd, avidly manhandling several of the ready-to-wear outfits in the mistaken belief he was anitinerant Russian merchant travelling through China bartering goods.
Only the shouts from the models that the clothes were needed for a fashion shoot saved them from being exchanged for a fistful of renminbi since members of the crowd were intent on being the first to wear Cheong-Leen's latest offerings, well ahead of themoment they were due to go on sale.
The day-long shoot drew sizeable crowds in almost all of the locations in China's most populous city, including a pedestrian flyover and traffic policeman's stand in the middle of the busy four-lane Nanjing Road.
The onlookers were attracted by the sight of the two models, as well as former ballerina Cheong-Leen's cork-soled wedges, tangerine-coloured flares and tight black top.
Cheong-Leen had travelled to Shanghai with five oversized suitcases of pieces from her Pavlova Original and her Miss Pavlova ranges for this exclusive Sunday Morning Post preview of the collections.
