London, 23rd February. Mercedes-Benz is proud to announce that award winning emerging Chinese design talent Xiao Li showcased her Autumn/Winter 2016 collection on schedule at London Fashion Week today as part of Mercedes-Benz’ successful International Designer Exchange Program, which has enriched fashion weeks globally.
Key attendees included Millie Macintosh, Marvin and Rochelle Humes, Tinie Tempah, Daisy Lowe, Mary Portas, Rosie Fortescue and Ollie Proudlock.
Millie Mackintosh
Daisy Lowe
Xiao Li is one of China’s most promising design talents and her involvement in the Mercedes-Benz International Designer Exchange Program marks an exciting time for Mercedes-Benz and the London Fashion Week catwalk schedule. An unmissable event on the international fashion calendar, Xiao Li has the honour of closing London Fashion Week this season, this accolade comes after winning the Mercedes-Benz China Designer Award 2015. Thanks to the luxury automobile manufacturer’s support and initiatives such as the International Designer Exchange Program, the London catwalks continue to lead the way for championing break through designers.
Born in the small Chinese seaside town of Qingdao, Li’s early interest and promise in drawing led her to move to London where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Womenswear at the London College of Fashion. She moved onto a Master of Arts in Womenswear Knitwear at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 2013. Li’s innovative, sculptural knitwear pieces saw her gain early acclaim, winning the Pitti Filati ‘Feel the Yarn’ competition in 2012. Her graduate collection won both the Loro Piana Award for Best Knitwear Collection and the International Talent Support Diesel Award. The latter prize led to her interning for six months at Diesel Headquarters and creating a seven piece capsule collection in collaboration with the brand, which was sold exclusively at 10 Corso Como.
Tinie Tempah
Ollie Proudlock
Rosie Fortescue
Li produces both menswear and womenswear alongside accessories and footwear collections and is stocked in Dover Street Market, Joyce Hong Kong and 10 Corso Como.
In a short time, Li has established a signature aesthetic, creating sculptural knitwear pieces from technical and unusual materials, using silicone moulded motifs to add a distinctive and modern edge alongside, developing an eye for tailoring a striking oversized silhouette. Li works with fine, luxurious Italian yarns, and produces her work in both, Europe and China, merging both continents together effortlessly in her directional yet accessible collections. From outré graduate looks, Li has developed her work for market, and her Autumn/Winter 2016 collection will mark a progression into an enhanced commercial offer, retaining her avant garde appeal.
Presenting on schedule this season as part of the Mercedes-Benz International Designer Exchange Program, for this collection, Li took the opportunity to take stock and look back at her previous work, and ask herself the question, ‘Where has the time gone?’ in response to the growing sense of responsibility and pressure of establishing herself as a leading emerging design talent. Li is questioning the speed of the fashion industry and the feeling that there is no time for young designers to incubate and develop their ideas. From this, she looked at the work of Dali amongst others and considered the futuristic idea of a machine which could recycle wasted time.
This idea manifests itself literally in the collection with her accessories: silicone bags are moulded into the shape of an undulating ticking clock, her knitted trainers in black and white show the emblem of time.
Garments are deconstructed, giving the illusion that there wasn’t enough time to finish them. Jackets created from an embossed technical fabric feature stepped hems, and offer the illusion of speed – as if the wearer is running with her clothes thrown back behind her. Wide cut midi skirts fall loosely around the body, as well as in an asymmetric style, cut high at the back, shorter at the front with curved, elegantly undulating seams. A-line maxi dresses in sumptuous Italian wools and playful drop hem oversized tunics are layered over Li’s signature textured knitwear created from plastic film. The colour palate picks up from spring summer’s tempting baby blues and pink which serve as highlighting colours against rich burgundy, navy and grey tones. There is a play on proportion with the clashing of oversize pieces, but tailored step hems create a sense of shape, whilst clean minimal lines provide ample breathing space.
Evening wear is explored in halter neck, sportif feeling, maxi tiered gowns made from technical fabric which keep the look modern and fresh. Silicone bonding is used to create the clock face motifs, while the bold slogan ‘No time’ reminds the wearer that our biggest luxury is being able to indulge in the most fundamental, yet elusive of things: time.
Images: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz UK
