Samenvatting

QUOTE “This thesis is going to discuss the historical, cultural and economic conditions that currently Chinese independent designers have to take into account, both when venturing in the Chinese as well as in the international markets – more specifically, those in the West.” ISSUE Due to several disruptions occurred from 1980s onwards in China’s history, an interesting dynamic formed between Chinese fashion designers and the West, its fashion system and infrastructures. Oscillating between Western education and references, and simultaneously a strong desire to define a collective Chinese design identity and re-discover national pride, the new generation of Chinese designers is living a conflictual situation both in the West and in China. If in China, in fact, they still face the challenges of the inefficient infrastructures and social constraints, on the other side in the Western hemisphere their names remain significantly unknown to the wider audience of consumers. RESEARCH QUESTION What are the consequences of the rapid development of China’s fashion industry on Chinese independent designers today? SUB-QUESTIONS What are the main pitfalls generated by the quick rise of China’s fashion industry from 1980s onwards? What impact did the previously investigated issues have on today’s generation of Chinese independent designers? FINDINGS As China’s fashion industry quickly moves towards full maturation, the government and several independent institutions are creating a solid ground for Chinese independent designers to flourish. In order to make this change effective, it will be vital to invest in further educating customers and strengthening China’s legal system to protect original work, incentivizing small and medium enterprises, and fostering the creation of a positive national branding. Ultimately, a strong domestic fashion ecosystem that supports independent fashion designers in China is needed in order for the country to successfully transition from ‘Made-in-China’ to ‘Created-in-China’. An efficient way to eradicate the negative connotations from the label ‘Made-in-China’ is to perpetuate craftsmanship and high-qua¬lity, which translates into better materials, particular constructions or detailing of gar¬ments; all elements reminiscent of Chinese secular textile heritage. Young independent designers are already implementing fine qua¬lity in their collections, but they need to find the right way to communicate the added va¬lue in it to the customers. ARTICLE The article is entitled: “The Rise of the Prodigal Child : Causes Consequences and Potential Resolutions of Chinese Independent Designers’ Diaspora.” It was written based on the research findings