Asia has been a major force in fashion for many years. It is a continent that continues to be very fashion-forward and represents a significant portion of the global market. Asian designers have become more visible than ever, showcasing their creative DNA and diverse backgrounds. Asian designers have been pioneering the fashion industry for decades. Yohji, Rei, and Vera Wang are among the most prominent.
These Asian designers, with their rich heritages, diverse backgrounds, and extraordinary creativity, are revolutionising fashion today. From the legendary vision of Yoji Yamamoto to Robert Wun’s spectacular advant garde couture, LUXUO presents a list of the most prominent Asian designers of today.
Read more about Is Digital Marketing Necessary in Fashion?
Yohji Yamamoto
Yohji is a name that comes to mind when discussing prominent Asian designers. Since his arrival in Paris, in the early 1980s, Yohji Yamamoto has had a significant influence on fashion. Yamamoto alongside Comme Des Garçons’ founder Rei Kawabuko, had started a new movement of the unfinished look, creating modernity with unconventional silhouettes and deviating from what the fashion industry at the time deemed as “luxury elegance”. They were both major forces in fashion during a period when clean lines and flattering fit were the norm.
Yamamoto nailed the art of master tailoring, but used it non-uniformity and fluidity in his works— bias cuts were precise, hold and rips were thoughtfully placed and his flair was evident in unique shapes and textures.
Yamamoto used minimal colours and his ability to create asymmetrical textures, dramatic folds and drapes with exaggerated textures to draw attention to the movement. His work has been and continues to be extremely original and influential. His namesake brand Yohji Yamamoto and Y’s have flourished over 30 years of experience and has earned the designer worldwide success, working with high-end department stores like Dover Street Market and collaborations with Adidas, Hermès and Mikimoto amongst others.
Rei Kawabuko
Rei Kawabuko is one of the most influential designers of all time, Comme des Garçons creative director, co-founder of Dover Street Market and recognised icon of modernity in fashion. Kawabuko had no formal design training, but her creativity and raw talent allowed her to achieve worldwide recognition. Her early work in the late 60s with Comme des Garçons was so successful with Japanese consumers, the designer had incorporated it as a result. Her Paris debut in 1981, however, was met with disdain due to her lack of conformity to western high fashion. Despite this setback, she maintained her creative DNA, which has remained unchanged since.
Kawabuko was known for her unconventional style. Her design approach was revolutionary and pushed fashion to its limits. Kawakubo’s advant garde designs challenged traditional norms, experimenting with dramatic asymmetry, oversized silhouettes, and textured deconstructed forms. The visionary’s dedication to her innovative work has been cited by some of fashion most iconic figures as inspiration, including the likes of: Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester and Helmut Lang. Kawakubo’s contribution to fashion and strong influence is undeniable, the designer will most definitely remain as one of the most prominent fashion figures of all time.
Robert Wun
Robert Wun was born in Hong Kong and now lives in London. He is known for his extravagant haute couture displays. Robert Wun has been one of the leading names on the fashion world, particularly over the last two decades. Wun’s label was launched in 2014 after he was discovered by Joyce Boutique for his graduation collection at London College of Fashion. The designer established his label by creating custom orders that featured avant garde silhouettes, and drew inspiration from nature and movies.
The brand’s debut collection was presented in Paris, 2023, thanks to the support of Bruno Pavlovsky, Chanel. Wun made history as the first designer from Hong Kong to join the haute couture calendar as a guest member of The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. The collection was based on the theme of fear, and how it can be transformed into art. It featured his signature exaggerated forms, pleats and dazzling fabrics, as well as intricate detailing. The collection gave the fashion world, the now-viral “umbrella” and “wine-stained” looks.
This was only the start of his famed artistry, he later dressed Hollywood A-listers Beyoncé, Celine Dion and Lady Gaga amongst many others. His 2024 Paris Haute Couture Show went viral in recent years for its breathtaking show-stoppers, and his mastery of telling stories through fashion.
Read more: A Look At The “Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto” Retrospective In Shanghai
Simone Rocha
Irish-Chinese fashion designer, Liu Wen is one of today’s most influential designers. She has been a significant driving force behind the ultra-popular “coquette-core” trend, characterised by bow motifs, puffy sleeves, pearls and hyper-femininity. Simone Rocha, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, debuted in London Fashion Week 2010 and has since become a major force in the world of fashion. She now owns four standalone stores and works with renowned stockists such as Harrods. Bergdorf Goodman. 10 Corso Como. Dover Street Market.
Her well-known and distinct use of bows, maximalist pearl and rhinestone embellishments and her edgy approach to femininity is highly treasured in the industry — having worked with prominent brands like Moncler, Crocs, H&M and most recently a guest designer at Jean Paul Gaultier. As seen in her ballet-flat trainers and large bow-collared shirt, her detailed designs depict her interpretation of subversive feminine as a contemporary woman. Her creative CNA uses experimental fabrics, voluminous shapes and a nuanced color palette to create an edgier aesthetic, while still maintaining femininity.
Peter Do
Vietnamese-born designer Peter Do is a Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, an LVMH Graduate Prize winner, a former Phoebe Philio protégé at Celine, a brand owner and the creative director of Helmut Lang. Peter Do is a designer with cult status and is known for his impeccable clean tailoring, architectural inspirations, and textural flair. Do began his name-sake label in 2018 and made it to the New York Fashion Week in 2021. He was heavily influenced by Helmut Lang, Maison Margiela and Phoebe Philo in his early work, so it is not surprising that he will be joining Helmut Lang 2023.
His clean-cut innovative approach is well detailed in his interview with Culted, “Peter Do does not do minimalism, a word deemed reductive to the lengthy process it takes to create its garments. Peter Do does essentialism. Subtle but very much there, the difference lies within the concept: while minimalism looks to reduce as much as possible, essentialism focuses on the core of the idea, or rather, the essence.”
His work is simple and functional without sacrificing style. It’s a perfect example of a designer who doesn’t need to overdo it. His talent and influence are undeniable, as he is not known for being in the spotlight.
Read more: Dior will bring a fashion spectacle to the Paris Olympics 2024
Gaurav Gupta
Indian designer Gaurav Gupta is best known for his exuberant haute couture pieces, regularly worn by A-listers like Beyoncè, Cardi B and Deepika Padukone on the most prestigious red carpet events. In 2004, his namesake label, which specializes in bridal gowns, was established. Since then it has grown exponentially and is now one of the most established labels in the 2020s. He was also only the third Indian designer ever to have presented at the famous Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week in 2023.
The designer’s signature fusion of Indian indigenous construction and embellishment methods with western influences creates sculptural works of art that are surreal, extravagant and whimsical. In addition to his knack for artful couture creations, the designer is known to be vocal with diversity and inclusivity movements in India, advocating for “blending culture and art forms”. Gupta’s uncompromising devotion to his roots is evident in the way he pays regular homage to Indian heritage and techniques.
Prabal Gurung
Prabal Gurung, a Nepalese American fashion designer, is not new to the world of fashion. In 2009, he founded his own label after graduating the Parsons School of Design. He also interned under Donna Karen. His creative DNA is still vibrant, and he specializes in evening formal wear with eye-catching colors and feminine silhouettes. The visionary’s interpretation of modern fashion and his uncompromising focus on quality and innovation has earned him a spot amongst some of the most influential Asian designers.
His work has been worn on the likes of the world’s leading ladies like Michelle Obama, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and a frequent red carpet ensemble for prominent events like the MET Gala. By highlighting Nepalese roots in collections, and using models of diverse backgrounds, the talented designer has highlighted the importance for inclusivity within the fashion industry. Notable is the creation of the Shikshya Foundation Nepal that promotes childhood education.
For more on the latest in fashion news and releases, click here.