Opinion | French Haute Couture goes to Singapore
French heavyweights at couture week in Singapore predict a dazzling future for Asia, writesJing Zhang
Backstage, after her first catwalk show in Asia, fashion designer Yin Yiqing is excited about the potential the region holds for haute couture.
"I look forward to meeting the women here and to understanding their habits, their way of life and their tastes," she says. "It's a learning experience for me."
Yin's sentiments echo those expressed by the eight French couturiers showing at the second Haute Couture Week Singapore, which concluded on December 2.
The event, organised by Frank Cintamani and his company, Fide Fashion Week, is recognised as the only official haute couture week in Asia. Didier Grumbach, president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, gave it his stamp of approval, turning up with a French contingent.
Members of the chamber showing in Singapore included Christophe Josse, Maurizio Galante, Alexis Mabille, Julien Fournie and couture's new East-West poster girl, Yin.
A mixture of Asian designers were in attendance too, including Hong Kong celebrity red carpet favourite Barney Cheng, Thailand's Asava and Torgo from Mongolia. The wide range of aesthetics and talents were at times jarringly disparate.
Mainland couture powerhouse, Guo Pei, opened the week with an array of Oriental showpieces of formidable workmanship. The slick and sensual feminine gowns of Cheng made for a sophisticated show. The night ended in a dramatic costumey turn from Torgo.