Renowned fashion and haute couture designer Li Wei captivated the fashion world with her Spring/Summer 2025 collection “Yu Shu” showcased during Paris Fashion Week. A tenured professor and Ph.D. advisor at the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, Li brought her extensive expertise as a scholar, artist, and designer to the runway, leaving a lasting impression on attendees.
This season’s collection, crafted in collaboration with Duan Zhiqiang, Executive Director of Beijing Fashion Week, reflected Li’s commitment to integrating traditional Chinese culture with contemporary design. Drawing inspiration from her over forty years of experience in fashion, Li presented a collection that embodied a modern “Eastern visual” aesthetic, showcasing intricate craftsmanship and innovative techniques.
The show featured a stunning array of garments that celebrated traditional crafts while highlighting Li’s unique Eastern poetic perspective. Each piece radiated elegance, demonstrating her ability to weave cultural heritage into contemporary fashion narratives. Attendees were treated to a sensory experience, as the collection brought to life themes of beauty, resilience, and artistic expression.
Throughout her illustrious career, Li Wei has garnered numerous accolades, including the Gold Medal at the 10th National Art Exhibition and recognition as one of China’s “Top Ten Fashion Designers.” Her recent works, including the Colorful Yunnan exhibition held in Milan, further underscored her role as a leading figure in the global fashion landscape.
Li Wei
Li’s participation in Paris Fashion Week marked a significant milestone, not only for her career but also for the representation of Chinese textile heritage on an international stage. As an ambassador for the promotion of this heritage, she aimed to inspire a new generation of designers to embrace their cultural roots while innovating for the future.
The Spring/Summer 2025 collection was celebrated not just for its aesthetic beauty but also for its powerful narrative, reflecting Li Wei’s journey and dedication to the art of fashion. This show solidified her position as a trailblazer in the industry, continuing to influence and inspire through her unique vision.
About the Designer
Li Wei is a tenured professor and Ph.D. advisor at the Textile and Fashion Department of the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University. She is also a contemporary artist, fashion designer, visiting scholar at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD) in Paris, Vice President of the Chinese Clothing Culture Research Association, Chair of the China Popular Color Patchwork Committee, Director of the Costume and Styling Committee of the China Film Art Direction Academy, Deputy Director of the Fashion Art Committee of the China Textile Engineering Society, member of the China Artists Association, and Ambassador for the Promotion of Chinese Textile Heritage.
Professor Li combines multiple roles as a scholar, artist, and fashion designer. For over forty years, she has rooted her work in traditional culture, using traditional crafts as a medium while focusing on innovative research in international fashion design and contemporary global art. Through a unique Eastern poetic perspective, she creates fashion and fiber art that embodies a modern “Eastern visual” aesthetic. She has published several significant academic works, including *The Complete Collection of Chinese Arts and Crafts: Techniques Volume on Embroidery, Drawnwork, Knitting, and Theatrical Costumes*, *Research on the Techniques of Peking Opera Costume Making*, *The Embroiderer*, *The Dyer*, *The Weaver*, and *An Illustrated Guide to Traditional Chinese Clothing*. She has also published over 30 papers in key domestic and international journals, led numerous major research projects funded by the National Social Science Foundation, Tsinghua University’s Leading Talent Special Project, and the National Cultural Innovation Project, and organized more than ten international academic symposiums, delivering keynote speeches at over 30 major academic conferences both in China and abroad.
Her work has been recognized with numerous national awards. In 2004, her fashion piece *Night and Day* won the Gold Medal at the 10th National Art Exhibition. In 2009, her work *Pure, Remote, and Serene* won the Gold Medal at the “From Lausanne to Beijing: 6th International Fiber Art Exhibition.” In 2014, she was honored with the “APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting Attire Design” Award and named one of China’s “Top Ten Fashion Designers.” In 2022, she received the Bronze Medal for “Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics Uniform Design” and was named “Ambassador for the Promotion of Chinese Textile Heritage.”
Over the past decade, Li Wei has held solo exhibitions across the UK, France, the United States, Italy, Japan, Germany, Spain, and Africa. Notably, in 2023, her *Colorful Yunnan* exhibition was held at the ADI Design Museum in Milan, Italy. She has also presented over ten solo fashion shows focused on plant dyeing, haute couture, and cultural heritage themes, including the 2024 *Clothes: The Form of Heaven and Earth* fashion show, broadcast on CCTV-1’s *Beauty and Harmony*.
About the Collaborator
Duan Zhiqiang, holder of a Master’s degree in Economics, serves as the Board Secretary and Office Director of Beijing Fashion Holdings Co., Ltd., as well as the Executive Director of Beijing Fashion Week Co., Ltd.
Since 2016, Duan Zhiqiang has been actively involved in the planning and execution of Beijing Fashion Week, witnessing firsthand its growth and evolution. Over the past nine years, Beijing Fashion Week has leveraged the city’s rich historical and cultural heritage, alongside its position as a global metropolitan fashion hub, to host a range of activities at iconic city landmarks. These include trend releases, professional exhibitions, fashion forums, industry competitions, and award ceremonies. With a commitment to showcasing Beijing’s unique cultural character and enhancing its global influence, the event has steadily expanded in scale, quality, social impact, and international presence, evolving into a fashion culture industry service platform centered around cultural leadership, brand innovation, and commercial integration.
As Beijing Fashion Week approaches its 10th anniversary in 2025, Duan Zhiqiang will continue leading his team in innovating and refining the content and format of the event, further boosting its influence on the international fashion stage. His efforts aim to contribute significantly to the development of the fashion and cultural industries, both in China and globally.
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