Western designers are now proudly working in China!

Link: Western designers are now proudly working in China!

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By Emmanuel Hemmerlé, 21 January 2026

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Western designers are now proudly working in China!
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Thanks to The Business of Fashion and Gemma A. Williams for including me in this conversation.

Not long ago, designers like Kim Jones or Kris Van Assche kept their work in China quiet.

Today, they are taking public creative leadership roles at Chinese brands: a sign of a deeper shift.

Chinese companies are building long-term creative teams with international designers, providing the resources, freedom and platforms to shape collections, campaigns, and brand stories that can resonate globally.

Western designers now see Chinese brands as prestigious and successful enough to relocate: China offers fertile ground for career growth, reinvention, and high-profile global projects

Curious how this trend is unfolding?

Read Gemma Williams' full reporting here: urlr.me/rcdGhx

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