Ping He (fashion designer)

Ping He (fashion designer) is an award winning leading international fashion designer, living in London and the founder of the international luxury designer womenswear label, PINGHE. Ping’s creativity and vision were honed in through her work for fashion houses such as Alexander McQueen and previous appearances at London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week came when Ping was charged with designing Aftershock’s couture collection ‘Aftershock Gold’.^[1]

Early career

Ping was interested in fashion design from a young age, was window designer at a top end bridal boutique at the age of 16.^[2] At the age of eighteen, Ping attended Suzhou University, one of the leading art and design universities in China. Her BA graduate collection was a new design form that combined shadow with human body shapes, and the collection won her a first class degree. While at university, Ping won numerous awards, including a Shanghai Fashion Week award for womenswear design and a SAGA design award.^[3] After studying a Master's Degree in Fashion Design in the Nottingham Trent University with the top score in her class, she worked at high fashion labels including Camilla Staerk and Alexander McQueen.^[4] Ping has been Head of Design for the UK headquartered global fashion brand Aftershock for 5 years. At Aftershock, Ping oversaw the highest sales growth in the company's history and her clients included Madonna and Uma Thurman. Ping continued to win awards in her time at Aftershock, including a British Fashion Council award for 'Best Rising Star Brand'.

PINGHE

As of 2011 Ping has established her own Ready-to-wear label in to the UK, PINGHE, with the support from Harvey Nichols CEO Joseph Wan and former Chairman of the British Fashion Council Harold Tillman.^[5] The brand combines leather, sheers and structured silhouettes, PINGHE oozes sophistication and an elegant resistance.^[6] Ping He showed her Spring Summer 2013 collection in Vancouver Fashion Week in Canada, to critical acclaim. In 2013, PINGHE Spring Summer 2014 collection was presented in London during London Fashion Week; and whilst this is only the second full collection for Ping’s designs, the label has already become highly covetable amongst A-list clientele. Fans included the fashion royalty, Poppy Delevingne, Mary Charteris, who DJ’ed at the PINGHE after party; and MTV’s Laura Whitmore.^[7]

Style

Ping He’s signature style derives from her love of architecture; structured silhouettes combined with eye-catching details form the collection’s aesthetic. Employing contradictory concepts, her collection sees soft and strong, elegant and powerful elements, expertly blended in subtle, neutral hues. Ping He designs for women and ensures that her clothing truly empowers and flatters.^[8] She has truly shown the artistic talent that was nurtured at Alexander McQueen.^[9]

References