Asian Faces In High Fashion

[Prymasquous]

Still can't get over how Liu Wen slither back to Prada. Incredible presence, first Asian out, and fifth position. Same for Jiali, third to last. Overall not diverse but decent cast. Supers, top stars and newbies. Triumph for Asian this season.



Anyway it's just interesting that this season's cast could be the manifestation of something greater. I mean from what I read online I've gathered that Prada is strategic in its operation and with the multiple promotions/projects they've done recently for China, in particular, speak volume... or it makes sense if one connect the dots. (Plus the larger picture of Chinese/Asian in campaigns, etc.)

The inclusion of Liu Wen and Fei Fei especially trigger a moment to pause and think.

Perhaps Prada is taking a stronger investment in China therefore explains the cast we have this season.

Even Du Juan was there front row. They're taking advantage with the high-profile names.





However, it's a different story for Japan. Prada's sales are just declining there, or something just not working. And maybe the reason why Kohei gets to close the shows back-to-back is because...? Possibly wrong, but does he have a part in this in regard to the Japanese market/situation. Could he be of help?

Recent sales report for Asia/Japan:



pradagroup.com​

Anyway. Speculating much. Conincidence. Maybe reading too much into it. Haha.

 

[Prymasquous]

Not sure who cast Tod's... but Hoyeon finally walked. How long she's been in Milan because she missed her shows.


Dylan is in town, for what.



Fendi was on a roll, perhaps Asian doesn't reflect the collection this season.

And Gucci... that's the best? Given everything considered from the collection pieces, message of the show, and the abundance of Asian models. Could've been better IMHO. Floored but no high expectations.

 

[bluebanter]

Hoyeon was in New York and only recently arrived in Milan.
She would've been a shoe-in for Fendi in my opinion.

 

[Plax]

Chu Wong got Self Portrait 18 S/S Campaign

 

[tjasmine]

Dylan was at Arthur Arbesser.

 

[Prymasquous]

Albino Teodoro FW18 - Milan

Huan Zhou & Ruoyang He




Anteprima FW18 - Milan

Hyunji Shin & Shujing Zhou




Arthur Arbesser FW18 - Milan

Liang Xiang Qing & Dylan Xue




Blumarine FW18 - Milan

Sijia Kang, Cong He, Yoon Young Bae & Hyunji Shin





Genny FW18 - Milan

Siqi Chen & Yue Han



theimpression.com; wwd.com ​

 

[Prymasquous]

Giada FW18 - Milan

Wangy Xinyu & Huan Zhou





No. 21 FW18 - Milan

Hyunji Shin, Wangy Xinyu, Kiko Arai, Yirou Zhou & Cong He





Sportmax FW18 - Milan

Sohyun Jung, Chu Wong, Jiali Zhou & Sora Choi



theimpression.com; wwd.com ​

 

[mathiaskatz]

Sigh, Versace:

SS16: Dylan Xue
FW16: Sora, Li Xiao Xing
SS17: Issa
FW17: Sora, Issa, Yoonyoung
SS18: Sora, Issa
FW18: Sora, Issa, Sohyun

Averaging a good 1.5 Asians per season.

 

[bluebanter]

You can always count on Versace to have hardly any asians

Just curious, what Asian model has booked Versace the most number of times?

 

[mathiaskatz]

^MDC doesn't have any data before FW12, but from FW12-FW18, Sora leads with 5 shows.

Sora (5 SS15, FW16, FW17, SS18, FW18
Fei Fei (4 SS14, FW15, HCFW15, HCSS16
Issa (4 SS17, FW17, SS18, FW18
Tian Yi (3 SS13, SS14, FW14
Chiharu (2 FW13, SS15
Ming Xi (2 FW13, SS14
Yumi Lambert (2 HCSS15, FW15
Dylan Xue (1 SS16
Li Xiao Xing (1 FW16
Shu Pei (1 FW12
Sohyun Jung (1 FW18
Tiana Tolstoi (1 FW15
Yoonyoung Bae (1 FW17

Apologies if I missed/skipped someone.

 

[Prymasquous]

^ Du Juan and Bhumika too, once each.




While it's better that we have Asian walking than none.

But I won't take Donatella seriously, or I don't think she consider much about Asian (where an entire continent of nations with a range of beauty and unique backgrounds). It's simple. If you aren't at the table, you won't be represented. You won't have a say. She's in charge and she can do anything she wants, of course. By the same token, she can do much more than produce a predictable quota (or lack there of) season after season.

She touts about women empowerment, change, diversity and equality - but to me it lacks a certain conviction regarding Asian models representation. Her Asian models/quota is complacent, negligent and perhaps not as sincere with much thought or care.


So much to say but this is only an opinion at the moment. And I'm not condemning the designer, I just see a dissonance with what the brand stands for and the message she sends out accompanying the shows, that just doesn't translate effectively. Or doesn't resonate with me, and that may be just me.

Of course, everything can't be achieved and everyone won't be pleased. I get it. But the point is that things could be better with more effort. What about the bigger picture?




Anyway.

Ai Tominaga, Ujjwala, Han Jin, Liu Wen, Sui He, Hye Jung, Kailey Hsu and Siqi could all fit the bill of a Versace woman. Actually more Asian models as well.

But seriously, so many 'misfits' get cast that don't necessarily exude/look/evoke of a Versace woman, anyway (though its understandable from time to time). Inexplicable.

Then again, what do I/we know...

 

[Prymasquous]

Etro FW18 - Milan (C)

Cong He, Sohyun Jung, Hoyeon Jung, Kiko Arai, Sora Choi,
Yoon Young Bae & Yao Chen






Iceberg FW18 - Milan

Tra My & Milano Nasu




Roberto Cavalli FW18 - Milan

Heejung Park, Yoon Young Bae, Sohyun Jung & Hoyeon Jung



theimpression.com; wwd.com ​

 

[Prymasquous]

Krizia FW18 - Milan

Shujing Zhou & Huan Zhou




Marco de Vincenzo FW18 - Milan

Hyunji Shin




Tod's FW18 - Milan

Liu Wen, Chu Wong, Sora Choi, Hoyeon Jung & Kiko Arai





Versace FW18 - Milan

Sohyun Jung, Issa Lish & Sora Choi




Vionnet FW18 - Milan

Heejung Park, Yerim Ko & Kiko Arai


theimpression.com; wwd.com ​

 

[bluebanter]

Missoni had a wonderful cast

Sora has literally walked every single show Piergiorgio Del Moro cast in Milan. Not sure any other model did that this season.

 

[Prymasquous]

Moncler by Simone Rocha FW18 - Milan (O) (C)

Sora Choi, Cong He, Wangy Xinyu, Liu Chunjie, Yue Han, Yan Zhao,
Sijia Kang, Kiko Arai, Huan Zhou...




vogue.coom ​

 

[Prymasquous]

Junli Zhao, UNKNOWN #1, Xiting Yan,
Yoon Mi Sun, Yihui Wang, Gao Jie, Heejung Park, Yoon Young Bae,
Hyunji Shin, Ling Chen & Xie Chaoyu





vogue.com ​

 

[Prymasquous]

Even though PDM is one of the better CD, perhaps too much of him... Would like to see more Pfeiffer/Munro/Scully/Grimes - to make it more interesting. See if they could do 'better', or their choices of models would vary.



Ooh! I think I'm liking Henry Thomas. He did decent this season for Men's. And he employed a good turnout for Jil Sander this season. Don't recall when there were this many Asian at the brand. New transition and direction maybe, but still JS!



Anyone knows what is Radhika's new username for Instagram? It's no longer @pazhatu? Interestingly she's not doing Milan - where is she?

Same for Dipti. Thought she'd show more of her beauty there, while having the interest of a few CD.

 

[Prymasquous]

Aigner FW18 - Milan

Joony Kim & Jung Moon Lee





Antonio Berardi FW18 - Milan

Shujing Zhou & Hyunji Shin





Antonio Marras FW18 - Milan

Jean Yong, Diane Chiu & Yue Han





Brognano FW18 - Milan

Dylan Xue


theimpression.com; wwd.com ​

 

[mathiaskatz]

Missoni had a wonderful cast

Sora has literally walked every single show Piergiorgio Del Moro cast in Milan. Not sure any other model did that this season.

You jinxed her. She missed Philosophy.

Ad updates for SS18:
- Sora for Saks
- Yuka for Nordstrom
- Mona for bloomingdales

 

[Prymasquous]

Agnona FW18 - Milan

Songhwa Oh, Yue Han & Ling Chen




Cividini FW18 - Milan

Yana Zhu & Joony Kim




Ermanno Scervino FW18 - Milan

Shi Xuan Hu, Wangy Xinyu, Cong He, Liu Chunjie & Liang Xiang Qing





Francesca Liberatore FW18 - Milan (C)

Jung Moon Lee




Giorgio Armani FW18 - Milan

Qi Wang & Yue Han


theimpression.com; vogue.com; wwd.com ​