(ECNS) -- The 6th China-France Cultural Forum is to be held from Nov. 12 to 14 in Deauville, France. Livia Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov, French avant-garde designers, shared their story with China and expectations for a greater Sino-French fashion partnership in an exclusive interview with China News Network.
“The cultural cooperation between China and France can be in all fields. And in terms of fashion, China and France are very complementary. We hope to see more cross-cultural and cross-industrial collaboration in the future featuring both Chinese and French craftsmanship,” they said.
(Photo: courtesy of the interviewee)
Back in 2014, Stoianova and Samouilov first came to China to attend a fashion event held by the Asian Couture Federation in Shanghai. Since then, they have been very active in China’s fashion world, with their co-founded haute couture brand - On Aura Tout Vu.
Drawing inspiration from rich Chinese culture
Paul Poiret, a legendary French couturier, began utilizing Eastern aesthetics in the early 20th century. He was highly influenced by Chinese fashion, as seen in his famous “lampshade” dress and embroidered Chinese-inspired robe from 1912.
Like Poiret, Stoianova and Samouilov often introduce elements of legends, traditions and craftsmanship from different countries in Asia, including China. “China boasts a very long history and rich cultural heritage. We are always inspired coming here and will certainly keep working on that in the future,” said Stoianova.
Samouilov recalled that they used a Chinese element in their very first show in 2002. At that time, they were traveling in Beijing and the show was about travel. So they designed a coat inspired by traditional Chinese embroidery from the Peking Opera.
(Photo: courtesy of the interviewee)
During this year's Spring-Summer Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris, On Aura Tout Vu collaborated with two textile companies in Keqiao District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, East China. “It was an incredible collaboration because we had the opportunity to visit some of the factories first. We also saw some very interesting crafts. That's why we decided to include some fabrics from China in our collection,” said Samouilov.
The unique beauty of Chinese fabrics was completely revitalized through its bold, avant-garde and glamorous design style. Keqiao District is known as a global textile center. Almost a quarter of the world's textile products are sold here every year.
“Some crafts in China are a bit forgotten by the general public. And that is why we would love to establish further collaboration with our brand in the future,” he added.
Seeking high-quality exchange beyond the fashion industry
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Cultural exchange has always been an important part of Sino-French cooperation.
“60 years ago, it was really difficult to exchange even just information. But now, with the enormous technological advancement, everything is very fast and simple. The key now is how to exchange better,” Stoianova said.
(Photo: courtesy of the interviewee)
During their stay in China, they noticed that there are more and more young designers who are becoming more creative, true to themselves and to the local culture. “In China, technology is developing very quickly. Everything goes very fast. And there is a type of energy that cannot be found in any other country,” they said.
Data shows that China is the world's largest garment exporter, with a market share of 31.6 percent and annual export revenue of $165 billion in 2023.
In recent years, Chinese fashion trends have been characterized by diversification, technological advancement, sustainability and personalized customization. From their perspective, the future of fashion involves integrating sustainability with technology.
“We need to continue cultural exchange in all areas, including music, theater, film and more. I think some of them are already underway, but more can still be achieved,” Samouilov added.
(Photo: courtesy of the interviewee)
(Photo: courtesy of the interviewee)
(Photo: courtesy of the interviewee)
