The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2023 - Issue 33

bitefashion In 2017, Hu dressed Chinese actress Zhang Xinyu in an extravagant dress in- spired by the traditional floral pattern of Northern China at the Cannes Film Festival. Three years later, models wore outfits written with the slogans ‘Keep it up, China’ and ‘Hang in there, Wuhan!’ for the curtain call at New York Fashion Week. His National Fashion Tour premiered at the Red T Art District in Wuhan the following year, showcasing unique silhou- ettes and ethnic headwear. The fabric patterns adopted elements of China's cultural heritage, including Beijing, Miao and Su embroidery and jacquard, alongside chiffon, silk, faux fur and bamboo fibres. “The fashion industry is a microcosm of social develop- ment,” Hu explained. “I hope to show the prosperity and rise of China through 100 pieces of qipao (Chinese dress). Chinese women are self-motivated and confi- dent, and telling their stories in various ways." The 100 women included members of the Chinese Communist Party wearing glittery red qipao adorned with two red five-pointed stars to express their patriotic love and present beautiful stories about China marching forward into a new era. Last year, at London Fashion Week, Hu presented a phenom- enal couture collection, ‘A Place: Hide and Seek’, that mesmerised the audience and encouraged them to think deeply. Within the light and darkness themes, fascination and enlightenment were expressed through a literal hide-and-seek embodiment of hiding one’s true identity and feelings about themselves or those around them. The collection is inspired by the designer’s life experiences and feelings, with mesh, lace, printed and leather fabrics, reconstructed and innovated fabrics through solid colours and wrapped silhouettes. “Where exactly is ‘A Place’?” the designer posed. “Anywhere, it could be a busy alleyway, a street full of traffic, your home or even your room. Isn’t the end of life also A Place? So it doesn’t matter where this place is; where I am is where this place is.” This hide-and-seek game could be an escape from reality, pursuing perfection, protecting oneself and showing others a literal mask. Models Wang Bin, Wang Yueyi and Chang Huanhuan wore these full-face masks and delivered mesmerising performances. The enchanting costume-like designs presented in a stage play with the models dancing or moving to the haunting music in a circular space made the show captivating. The shooting technique of 360-degree bullet-time captured each model’s ‘movement’ and ‘stillness’ exacer- bated by an undercurrent of tension, leading to a climatic finish. It also delivered a theatrical wordplay of ‘fashion in motion’ that dazzled on stage and would make an art museum-worthy installation. From the nude bodysuit and layered pebble skirt, black and white pannier skirt with ruffled balls of lace on the body, the beautifully embroidered layered dress with pink floral embroidery and black and white underlay to the fitted sleeveless dress with an hourglass fishtail, these designs blew the mind. Bushy hair, with a couple in a handheld folding fan shape, and the 1950s Hollywood hairstyles accentuated the looks and made them more dramatic. The extreme- ly high-heeled thigh boots were out of this world. The lace face covering gave the apparel and the model that walked it a sense of mystery and avant-garde vogue. I was intrigued by the white ruffle dress