Know the Versatile Chinese Fashion Designer Qiu Hao

One of the most profiled Chinese designers, Qiu Hao was born in Taicang. The China-based Qiu Hao is one of the most acclaimed fashion designers these days. His great work of fashion and knitwear collection won Qiu Hao won the prestigious Woolmark Prize Award in 2008 at Paris and he joined
the ranks of top designers, including Donna Karan, Karl Lagerfeld, and Giorge Armani.

Qiu Hao completed his study in interior and spatial design in the country and then moved to London for his Master’s Degree at Central Saint Martin College of Art and Design. He returned to Shanghai in 2006 to set up his unique fashion brand, known as QIUHAO, which has become the most watched fashion names in China. Qiu Hao launched Neither Nor, his first clothing line, which is now on sale in Chinese cities. He has also been nominated for Global Fashion Awards 2011.

Qiu Hao sticks to his unique design concept to create conceptually-driven design garments. He believes that Chinese designs don’t need to be just about dragons and bright colors. Qiu says that it is not easy to run a small fashion business in China, due to financing, manufacturing, and distribution challenges.

One of the most influential emerging fashion designers, Qiu has opened a manufacturing lab and operates the same with 13 employees. This, he says, is an effort to promote his collections abroad. His first collection met great success, and was applauded by Vogue, L’Officiel, Elle, The Wall Street Journal, and Haper’s Bazaar.

His great work has found a place at the Fashion Weeks in Paris, Singapore, Sydney, and Stockholm. In 2010, Qiu Hao’s work got greater recognition when his name was mentioned among the 25 Chinese Fashion people in Forbes.

His new collection, Serpens, is actually a tribute to the reptile, the mystery, fascination, and fear surrounding it. Qiu Hao’s collections are like fabric sculptures and structured garments, which are like a soft armor for the body, with every fold and seam creating a unique play of volumes and shapes, making these clothes nothing less than real art and fashion works.

He launched his first clothing line - Neither Nor – currently on sale in nine cities across China was also nominated for the Global Fashion Awards 2011 as one of the Breakthrough Designers by WGSN. He wants to motivate and develop his brand first in China. He ensures that his sculptural knitwear garments do all the talking.

Surely a designer to look out for!