The modern Chinese woman: what she’s like, what she wears, her role models, and why Western brands don’t get her
- Contemporary Chinese women are not well understood, especially by some Western brands; we asked fashion and lifestyle experts to describe these creatures
- They are independent, confident, practical – much like their Western counterparts – but also more reserved, our panellists agree
Among Chinese consumers, Lunar New Year has gained notoriety for triumphs and blunders in fashion design and marketing. It isn’t the only occasion where Western fashion brands are left wondering who their female customers are and what exactly they want.
“I believe Chinese women are some of the most intelligent, enduring and beautiful women in the world – but their image often is misrepresented in the West, as well as to themselves,” American-Chinese fashion designer Grace Chen says.
Designing for the modern Chinese woman has been a focal point of Chen’s work for the last 10 years, and she has learned a lot about this species. They are powerful, yet their image and interests have often been misrepresented, and never more so than in the wake of the recent controversy over a Dolce & Gabbana advertising campaign in China that prompted a customer boycott, led the Italian fashion house to cancel a show and prompted major retailers to drop the label.
Chen has helped women – not just Chinese, but women around the world – better express their identity, confidence, and glamour through her designs.
To to hear their personal takes on the characteristics of the modern Chinese woman, we spoke with Chen and a number of other influential women in China: Zang Wen, the editor-in-chief of YOHO Girl!, whose mission is to tell young women it's OK to be different; fitness influencer Giselle Hou, who shares tips and insights on healthy eating habits and lifestyles with her friend Weiya Zhang on their Bi-Weekly vlog; Crystal Li, an employee of a leading fashion e-commerce platform; and Sara Jane Ho, founder of Beijing-based finishing school Institute Sarita, who hosts her own weekly show on Beijing Television (BTV) that showcases the lifestyles of women in China and around the world.
What makes a modern Chinese woman?
