Who are your design influences?
Fashion design is part of my family history. Both my grandmother and my mother are inheritors of Wenzhou’s intangible cultural heritage for qipao craftsmanship. I grew up in their workshop, and that environment shaped my understanding of craftsmanship and aesthetics from a very young age.
I later worked in innovation consulting across the U.S. and China. In 2021, I chose to return to my roots, realizing fashion could be a way to carry tradition into modern life—bridging East and West through collaboration with friends and creatives around the world.
What’s the most challenging aspect of being a fashion designer?
The pace of the fashion industry. Designers are expected to constantly produce newness, yet I believe in responsible production and long-lasting design. My challenge is staying creatively relevant without compromising values—creating pieces meant to endure rather than contribute to fast fashion cycles.
How important is sustainability in your designs?
Sustainability is fundamental. The fashion industry produces excessive waste, so FayWeaver works with an order-to-make model to produce responsibly. We tailor pieces to individual needs and offer after-sales services such as alterations and maintenance, extending each garment’s life. We also created a PET sustainable Nishijin collection from water bottles. To us, sustainability is not a trend—it is a result of thoughtful, timeless design.
How do you balance creativity with wearability in your designs?
Creativity is not only visual—it is also about meaning and everyday use. Different people seek different expressions: some want presence, while others value comfort and quiet distinction. Traditional qipao is often restrictive, so we redesign it for modern life, focusing on comfort without losing cultural depth. We work across both premium textiles like silk and practical fabrics such as velvet within a consistent design language.
Velvet allows qipao to feel refined yet effortless. It responds beautifully to light, pairs naturally with embroidery, and helps translate our signature qipao into everyday pieces.
What’s your favorite type of collaboration?
I value cross-disciplinary collaboration. In 2025, FayWeaver launched its first home and living collection at Paris Design Week, combining Chinese hand-woven ramie, natural dye, and hand embroidery with innovative materials such as liquid copper. I also deeply enjoy co-creation with clients, especially for wedding qipao. Designing together—selecting motifs that reflect personal stories—allows creativity to be shared, and meaning to be built collaboratively.
