Fashion exhibits offer an advantage that the runway shows cannot: the ability to truly study and appreciate the designs of budding talents up close and personal.  The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. is the venue where fashion buffs can visit the exhibit, “The New China Chic,” a showcase of Asian and Asian-American designers whose work retains Chinese cultural ties.  These designers, some experienced and others newer in the game, are making a big splash.  The exhibit, on display from October 4-16, 2005 in the Terrace Gallery, is one of the anticipated features of the Kennedy Center’s Festival of China in October.

The East merges with the West in the designs of Zang Toi, Barney Cheng, John Rocha, Yeohlee Teng, the house of Blanc de Chine, Peter Som, Vera Wang, Derek Lam, Vivienne Tam, Jeffrey Chow, Amy Chan, Andrew GN, Anna Sui, and Shanghai Tang.  Between two and four pieces per designer transformed white faceless mannequins into works of art. In addition, intricately exquisite jewelry from Cartier, Kai-Yin Lo, and Christian Tse supplement the clothing...

Andrew GN from Singapore never ceases to amaze with his flowered and embroidered silk-linen coats.  Anna Sui’s linen and crepe pants under Asian-inspired dresses are a beautiful take on the leggings-and-dress style that is currently all the rage...