Time Out at 40

Ai Weiwei | Xander Zhou | Gia

Xander Zhou © Time Out

Xander Zhou
Xander Zhou is a rare thing – a young Chinese designer who is making waves in the international fashion world. Zhou’s menswear range was a big hit at last year’s London Fashion Week, and the 26-year-old’s designs have been worn by the likes of British singer Mika and Chinese actresses Zhou Xun and Xu Jinglei.

Your designs have great global appeal, where did you train?
I studied fashion in Holland and worked with Dutch designer Jeroen van Tuyl, but I always planned to return to China. I came home last year and set up shop in Beijing’s fashionable Jianwai SOHO complex.

Describe your signature menswear style
It’s a varied range, covering both everyday items and haute couture. The focus is on classic cutting and tailoring with a few twists such as slashed shirts and jackets made with heavy fabrics like PVC and silk. Feature continues

Would you describe yourself as a ‘Chinese designer’?
Being in China is important to me. But then again, my fashion is international. I don’t want to be seen just as ‘a Chinese designer’, but as a good one.

Who is your fashion hero?
Yves Saint Laurent, because he survived so many fashion revolutions and always came out on top. Chou Hao is also a really good Chinese designer.

Are you a party person?
My idea of the perfect night out is dinner with friends in Sanlitun and then out. It depends how much I’ve had to drink. If I’ve drunk a lot, I can go a bit wild. We usually always end our nights out with karaoke.

www.timeout.com/beijing

Ai Weiwei | Xander Zhou | Gia