A model presents a creation by chinese designer Frankie Xie for Jefen
© AFP Pierre VerdyPARIS (AFP) - Jefen, the label he established in Beijing in 2000, offered a youthful spring-summer 2007 women's collection largely adapted to reflect Western styles with Chinese touches.
"We use a lot of Chinese technology such as hand embroidery, Chinese fabrics or Chinese silk. The prints are Chinese designs," the 46-year-old said, after the show Sunday, speaking through an interpreter.
Hand-painted motifs of peach tree flowers in peachy hues and raspberry prettily adorned long and short dresses.
But navy and white stripes on a silk-satin dress kicked off the collection that also featured baby-doll dresses, hot pants, striped leggings, mannish trousers and baggy short dungarees.
Bows, braces and little puff sleeves added cuteness.
David Bowie's 1980s hit "China Girl" as part of the show's backing track seemed aimed at symbolizing the blend of this fashion house's Western-oriented wardrobe with a proud Chinese identity.
"We were targeting European consumers, maybe of more than 25 years old, 30 years old, who are interested in Eastern culture and above all Chinese culture," Xie said.
Entitling his collection "The Door", the designer said he had chosen the theme to represent Chinese fashion opening up to the world. He owns about 20 shops in China but has plans to open outlets in Europe.
A model presents a creation by Chinese designer Frankie Xie for Jefen
© AFP Pierre Verdy"Everyone now knows that China has the production but they don't know that it has the design," Xie added.
Didier Grumbach, the president of the French Couture Federation, said recently that he believed Xie's appearance on the official calendar of Paris fashion week would have "an enormous impact in China".
China's Ambassador to France, Jinjun Zhao, attended the catwalk show which got Paris' ready-to-wear collections underway, following hard on the heels of Milan, London and New York.
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