Biography
Chen Xuzhi is the designer behind Xu Zhi, a London-based fashion label stocked in London’s Dover Street Market , Bejing-based Lane Crawford and Beams in Tokyo. Xuzhi’s textile innovation and construction techniques have earned him nominations for the LVMH and International Woolmark prizes in 2016.
After graduating from Central Saint Martins with a BA in Womenswear Design, Chen briefly worked at Craig Green and J.W. Anderson before founding his label Xu Zhi in 2014. His approach to simplicity while retaining craftsmanship techniques led to rapid success and his collection was showcased in London, Paris, Milan and China.
Julie Gilhart , a fashion consultant who helped launch the LVMH Prize for emerging talent, considers Xu Zhi “a classic example of Chinese craftsmanship heritage with Western influences.” She told BoF: “You won’t see this regard for textiles anywhere else, but you can really notice it in China. It’s a sophistication that we need to acknowledge; it’s really interesting and we aren’t used to seeing it.”
Xuzhi was also nominated for the H&M Design awards in 2015 and was named in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in Asia in 2017.