FashionNXT Recap: China Moments

Friday, October 10, 2014

Kemea Smith, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Ji Yuanyuan designs Photo Credit: Aj Caldeira (image cropped)

Although the first night of FashionNXT was a hectic hot mess, China Moments, the runway showcase of the night, was a hit.

I'm not kidding about the hot part. On entering the FashionNXT tents in the Pearl District, a blast of heat (the kind of heat that comes from too many people standing around in one place) and the smell of burning food and plastic hit strong.

There were the people crowding the bar for their gin and tonics. There were the flimsy white plates with food. There were the porta-potties, reached by negotiating a maze of high-heeled attendees dressed to the nines.

And then there was the show. Or at least, 25 minutes after it was scheduled to start. When attendees were finally invited into the tent, there were a lot of relieved feet eager to take the weight off some wedges.

Then there was Mayor Charlie Hales, talking about his ties to China, how he proposed to his wife Nancy in China (awww), and how their wedding ceremony was held at Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden.

And finally, the China Moments we'd all come to see.

SLIDES: See A China Moment slideshow BELOW

Kai Yeung Yau

Kai Yeung Yau designs Photo Credit: Aj Caldeira (image cropped)

The runway show finally started after thank-yous from a Chinese delegate and his nervous translator. The first to start the show was Kai Yeung Yau, designer for Hong Kong-based clothing company Nganlok. Two models walked down the runway wearing white t-shirt maxi dresses, and pastel floral headbands over their eyes. Silver-streaked eye makeup, sheer neon purple and orange, long-sleeved outerwear, and sleeveless asymmetrical tops were all featured.

Ji Yuanyuan

Telepopmusik’s downtempo song “Just Breathe” set the tone for Yuanyuan’s Aegean Sea inspired collection. The audience oohed and ahhed as the first look, a gray hand-beaded, knee-length dress gracefully took on the runway. The collection showcased beautifully swirly turquoise and orange printed-silk fabric, with gray, beaded coats, cardigans and peplums.

Lu Yu

Lu Yu is known as the “black fashion godmother” in China, and her garments didn’t lack the color. Black was combined with a sunglass-wearing animal-printed dress, coat and fringe top. Her studded baseball caps looked like a trend to capture every eager 20-something in town.

Song Hong

A collection of cashmere loungewear from the CEO and designer of Cashmere ended the first night of FashionNXT. The color palette of the collection was simple tans, creams and whites, with many of the outfits including matching gloves. Everyone was shocked, and applauded designer Hong as she came out for a bow, wearing a vibrant traditional Mongolian costume, that contrasted the cashmere garments she designs.