Feast of fusion as designer debuts collection in NY

Taoray Wang merges East and West, classic and modern at Fashion Week

Now Asia is re-purposing all kinds of Western styles and making their own.” Peter Brant Jr., on how Eastern and Western elements are coming together in a unique way in Chinese fashion brands

NEW YORK — Shanghai label Taoray Wang’s newest creations at the New York Fashion Week on Saturday created a visual feast with a fusion of Chinese and Western cultures.

On the third day of the event, designer Wang Tao merged East and West, modern and classic, masculinity and femininity into the Spring/Summer 2018 collection, named “Shanghai Baroque”.

“The inspiration came unexpectedly as I was listening to a concert in which a group of a very young fashionable Chinese musicians were playing Baroque British court music,” said Wang.

Her brand, Taoray Wang, first appeared at New York Fashion Week in the fall of 2014, and soon won applause for attaching great importance to combining modern art and traditional Chinese elements.

Wang, who studied fashion in Japan after graduating with a degree in history, has a diverse background and a global point of view. Still, she once said that Chinese culture is deeply rooted in her, as can be seen from the tailoring and the colors she uses.

“I’m so proud of being Chinese. Chinese culture is something you have to take time to discover and understand,” said Wang.

Tiffany Trump, the younger of US President Donald Trump’s two daughters, was among the celebrities who watched Wang’s show in the front row on Saturday.

Looking resplendent in one of Wang’s black strapless frock and white sash, the other first daughter — who takes a back seat to half sister and White House adviser Ivanka — sweetly for the cameras.

Tiffany Trump is the label’s most famous US customer, as it seeks to make increasing inroads into the US market. She wore a Taoray Wang outfit to her father’s inauguration in January.

Designer Wang Tao joked about wishing her New York store had opened last season, so positive was the impact of Trump’s front row attendance at her fall/winter collection last February.

“I think that really attracted lots of attention for the brand,” Wang told AFP. “In a very good way.”

“I like the woman who’s independent, confident and not afraid to speak for themselves,” said Wang, who designs for the powerful, professional and modern woman — leaders in government, business, finance and law.

“Tiffany is one of my customers too.”

Peter Brant Jr., son of a fashion model and a billionaire, was wearing a white outfit with line embroidery from the new Taoray line on Wednesday.

“I love the collection. It’s postmodern with classic fabric,” he said.

He loved Chinese fashion because Eastern and Western elements are now coming together in a unique way in Chinese fashion brands, he said.

“Western arts had so much influence from the East historically and now Asia is re-purposing all kinds of Western styles and making their own,” said Brant.

Indeed, Wang herself once said, “fashion transcends cultures, time and geographies”.

Meanwhile, the fourth day of Fashion Week saw Alexander Wang close off a dead-end street in Brooklyn to present his latest collection, an ode to New York and a new look at some of his signature stylistic elements. Christian Siriano offered up what he called a “psychedelic dream garden” of wild colors and whimsical prints, and a diverse runway in terms of shape, size, and gender.