China’s Queen of Couture: Interview by Cath Pound.

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Guo Pei’s designs are inspired by various sources, encompassing anything from Chinese imperial history and medieval European court clothing to Gothic architecture and Gothic art. Her creations, from futuristic costumes to porcelain-inspired gowns with gravity-defying pleats, are a world apart from anything else now available on the market. 

As a guest at the Met Gala in 2015, Guo dressed Rihanna in an incredible 14ft (4.3m) long cloak that weighed an incredible 55lbs (25kg), elevating her to worldwide prominence for the first time in her career. In 1967, at the start of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, Guo Shuijun was born in Beijing, China, and is known as a fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most important fashion designers in the country. While growing up during the Cultural Revolution, her maternal grandmother, who had been forced to throw away all of her items, motivated her artistic endeavors.

Movies like “Gone with the Wind” and historical literature were among her sources of inspiration, and she created what is widely recognized as the largest gown in current Chinese design. For Samsara, it was Guo Yuhua’s first genuine haute couture collection. The collection was inspired by Napoleonic uniforms from the Musée de l’Armée in Paris. It included her first true haute couture gown also her first true haute couture collection. Her favorite decorations are the flowing golden blossoms that cover her broad, wide skirts and layers of tulle that part like curtains to reveal a theatrical spectacle hidden beneath. In addition, fashion designers create shoes out of clear plastic with floral embroidery ascending their enormous soles or pleated silk over the foot in a toweringly ludicrous style that is wildly popular nowadays. As a consequence of Guo’s performance, the concert came to an awe-inspiring finish, and it signaled the beginning of Guo’s artistic innovation in the years to come.

Even though she initially struggled to find the artisans she needed to complete her ideas, Guo Pei’s designs are renowned for their exquisite embroidery. For this reason, Guo was compelled to travel to rural regions around Beijing to track out villagers who possessed the necessary skills. In addition, her utilization of historical samples she had returned from museums allowed her to increase their capacities over time gradually. As a result, Guo Maison D’Alessandro was asked to be a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris in 2015, and the company accepted the invitation. She is just the second designer from China who was born and educated in the country’s 147-year history to be invited. Between 2016 and 2020, she showed eleven collections during Paris Haute Couture Week, allowing a genuinely worldwide audience to see the theatricality of her designs and catwalk shows in their full splendor.

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