Inside an International Fashion Prize: Haute Couture Week

By BoF Team October 25, 2019 05:20

PARIS, France - Earlier this year, on March 29, the six designers behind China's most exciting emerging labels gathered to compete for the inaugural prize. Designed to spotlight and support emerging Chinese designers as they build international businesses, the BoF China Prize consisted of US$100,000 in prize money, a slot on the London Fashion Week schedule as well as a cocktail reception during Paris' haute couture week.

In this episode, we follow our winner, Shenzhen-born Caroline Hu, as she wrestles with the reality of being thrust into the media spotlight and the pressure of building an international brand.

Watch as Caroline presents her collection to some of the industry's most influential editors including Vanessa Friedman and , as well as high profile attendees including Pascal Morand, the executive president of the Fédération De La Haute Couture Et De La Mode, French fashion's governing body, designer Mary Katrantzou, fashion film doyenne Diane Pernet, along with numerous others.

However, this episode goes beyond capturing the celebration of Caroline's win. In addition to public facing events, the film captures private, intimate moments of doubt and the real-world challenges that must be overcome to succeed as an emerging fashion label, including her travel visa for Paris being refused days before the event and her delayed arrival in Paris, hours before the presentation.

Watch now to see how our naturally reserved winner responds to intense levels of attention, discover her motivation for applying for the prize in the first place, and hear her advice for other young designers as we follow her shopping for fabrics and see her designs come to life in an impromptu fashion show on the streets of Paris.