Chinatown International Fashion Week (CIFW) gave abundant fashion extravaganza sneak peek to press and special guests at the Mason Room at Hilton Chinatown San Francisco, 750 Kearny Street on Monday, October 19. The Press Preview event was held in anticipation of the main Gala Party on October 27. Cover photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation / Courtesy of CIFW.
Following last week’s Fashion Blogger and Designer Panel (yes, I had fun connecting with fellow style entrepreneurs that day! Thank you Monique for having me as part of the panel), SF Chinatown community and fashion design takes more center stage this week.
Day two of Chinatown International Fashion Week was all about introducing the coordinators and producers of this tremendous event while providing fashion sneak peek to the much anticipated October 27 gala. The Mason Room at Hilton seemed adequate at first, but that quickly changed once the event started, and more guests and photographers filled the room.
It is much appreciated that Chinatown International Fashion Week put emphasis on the overall objective of the whole fanfare AND its producers and supporters during that night. Monique Zhang clearly has a solid group of right-hand women and men who continually helped deliver her vision of stronger local community that passionately celebrates East and West fashion eclecticism.
Monique Zhang’s Chinatown International Fashion Week vision, board members, leaders of Hundred Asian Beauties (you can see all 100 of them during the October 27 Gala), Tuan Tran’s wire couture and upcycled fashion art, and show producers were the highlights during the first half.
Photos by Simon Fu of ES Creation and William Lee / Courtesy of Chinatown International Fashion Week.
Monique Zhang putting the brush and ink away after writing CIFW logo on the mounted paper. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Emcee of the night Norma Kropelnicki
Leaders of the Hundred Asian Beauties. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Leaders of Hundred Asian Beauties and their coach! Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Designs by Tuan Tran. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
One of the Hundred Asian Beauties. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Tuan Tran with models wearing his designs, promoting CIFW. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
One of the Hundred Asian Beauties. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Monique Zhang and Charleston Pierce surrounded by leaders of Hundred Asian Beauties. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Charleston Pierce and Monique Zhang. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
(Left to right) The backstage wonders Ava Byrd, James Griffith, and Aminah Mitchell. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
CIFW Music Director Joshua Bernstein (center). Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.As the night went on, more fashion design and art took center stage. Accompanying Monique Zhang’s Asian European fusion couture aesthetic, there were featured designs from San Francisco and Los Angeles.
They included painted modern fashion designer Victor Tung, modern ready-to-wear fashion designer Jessie Liu, surface designer Meixi Bai, Asian inspired designer Joanna Jia, bridal couture Noy Chanthavongsa, fabric printing art designer David Klein and kimono-inspired fashion designer Suzuki Kenzo, women shirting designer P.Taylor, global ethnic fashion designer Suzi Click and pearl adornment designer Gretchen Shields. Moreover, there were looks from Inspired Luxe and CreativPR designer groups.
Design by Jessie Liu. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Design by Jessie Liu. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Design by Meixi Bai. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Design by P. Taylor. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Design by Meixi Bai. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Outfit by Inspired Luxe. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Design by Monique Zhang. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Monique Zhang (second from left), Gretchen Schields (third from left), Denise Bradley-Tyson (third from right), David Klein (rightmost). Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Gretchen Schields (leftmost), Denise Bradley-Tyson (fourth from left), David Klein (third from right), Victor Tung (rightmost) showing their designs. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Design by Victor Tung. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Victor Tung showing his design. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Design by Noy Chanthavongsa. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Noy Chanthavongsa and her design. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Design by Noy Chanthavongsa. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Joanna Jia and her designs, interviewed by Monique Zhang. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.
Joshua Bernstein. Photo by Simon Fu of ES Creation.There was a great deal of passion for fashion, design, and art that night. It was definitely an evening of celebration, and a great anticipation for the October 27 Gala. While the size of Mason room proved challenging at times, the whole production felt organic, sincere, and grounded.
There’s an acknowledgement since the beginning of this Press Preview about the continued challenges to produce local fashion shows with comparable production value as big fashion-forward cities. I really appreciate that self-awareness, which balances abundant passion in delivering the best possible in uniting the local fashion community. I’d definitely love Chinatown International Fashion Week to have a great first year.
So let’s support Chinatown International Fashion Week! You can still get your ticket for the October 27 Gala here.
Thanks for reading; until next time,
Musank
CIFW Sponsors & Partners:
Hilton SF Financial District, Creativ PR, Miss Asian Global & Miss Asian American Pageant, New Bridge Group, Inc., GMaple Design, Ideology Studio, Salon Blu, Aminah Mitchell Events, ES Creation, Paul Mitchell, Inspired Luxe, Charleston Pierce Presents, Inspired SF, ByrdSong, and Mattie Wei Real Estate Team.
2015 CIFW Honorary Chairs:
Doris Grover, Rose Chung, Denise Bradley- Tyson, Lan Kay, CIFW Founder & Executive Producer Monique Zhang.
Photos: Simon Fu of ES Creation and William Lee / Courtesy of Chinatown International Fashion Week.
