Pushing the boundaries between
knitwear and silicone, Xiao Li is best known for her witty commentary on the
current fashion system, using colourful, voluminous shapes, and innovative
yarns and textures.
Studying BA Fashion Womenswear at London College of Fashion,
subsequently at Royal College of Art, where she graduated with an MA in Womenswear
Knitwear in 2013, Xiao began attracting attention back in 2012, when her
structured, bubble gum knitted garments won the Pitti Filati ‘Feel the Yarn’
competition, an award for innovative knitwear.
The following year, she won both
the Loro Piana Award for Best Knitwear Collection and the International Talent
Support Diesel Award – an accolade that led to a seven piece capsule collection
in collaboration with the brand and sold exclusively at 10 Corso Como.
Inspired by modern architectural structures, and the belief
that knitwear doesn’t have to be shapeless, Xiao combined classical techniques
with moulded rubber reliefs to create dip-dyed pastel knitwear pieces,
decoratively edged with silicone that British Vogue described as “marshmallow
chic”. Working with luxurious Italian yarns and the best Chinese manufacturing
available, Xiao merges both continents effortlessly in her directional
collections.
Originally born in the small Chinese seaside town Qingdao,
Xiao moved to London for her education and in the space of a few short years
has firmly established herself as one of China’s most promising talents. In
2014, the year after she graduated from RCA, Xiao was chosen for Fashion
Scout’s Merit Award, which provides new designers with business support. In
2015, having produced just three collections, she was shortlisted for the
prestigious LVMH Prize. Xiao also presented her AW16 collection as part of the
Mercedes-Benz International Design Exchange Program in both London and Beijing.
With an impressive list of stockists, including Dover Street
Market, H-Lorenzo and 10 Corso Como, Xiao Li is growing her international reach
each season. Xiao creates four collections a year, covering womenswear,
menswear, accessories and footwear.
Link: Xiao Li