Launched in October 2020 by Wendy Yu, founder and Ceo of Yu Holdings, Yu Prize was born as an initiative that aims to nurture young Chinese fashion talents, boost their international visibility, and support China’s fashion landscape, in partnership with the Fédération de la haute couture et de la mode and Shanghai Fashion Week.

“The Yu Prize will recognize and reward modern-minded designers who are multi-dimensional and versatile in their approach and who harness their creative power in acting new ways and strive for positive impact,” said Wendy Yu.

The 16 finalists of the project will present their collections on the occasion of Shanghai Fashion Week, which will be held from April 6 to 14, 2021.

Here are the names of the sixteen finalists of the Yu Prize 2021:
At-one-ment, Chen Peng, Danshan, Donsee10, 8on8, Garçon by Gçogcn, Oude Waag, Ming Ma, Redemptive, Shie Lyu, Shushu/Tong, Shuting Qiu, Susan Fang, Yueqi Qi, Windowsen, and Zi Ii Cii En.

The winner of the Yu Prize will be announced on April 6, 2021, during the Shanghai Fashion Week opening through an official awards ceremony, and will receive a cash prize of 1 million renminbi or $155,000, together with various benefits. Among these are a showcase at Sphere Showroom at Paris Fashion Week and a celebratory event co-hosted by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode in July 2021, Wendy Yu showcase at Shanghai Fashion Week in October 2021, mentoring for 12 months by international industry experts, with a special focus on sustainability, business incubation at Yu Holdings, and retailing at Harrods.

The finalists were selected by Yu Holdings, with the Yu Prize committee including Madame Lu, the vice-secretary general of Shanghai Fashion Week, Pascal Morand, the executive president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, Sara Maino, deputy director of Vogue Italia and head of Vogue Talents, and Michael Ward, managing director of Harrods. The jury also includes fashion designers such as Giambattista Valli, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jason Wu, and Renzo Rosso, the president of Otb who just joined Wendy Yu in the Yu Prize.

“Throughout my history, I have always wanted young talents to be part of the style offices of our brands because they are special, their creativity is uncontaminated, challenging, and it’s also thanks to them that we have become a point of reference for international fashion. I fully share Wendy’s commitment to foster young creativity, in this case specifically from China. In the last years I have had the opportunity to work with some of them – Pronounce, Xander Zhuo, Xiao Li – and it was an energizing experience. The exchange with China nowadays is ongoing and truly mutually enriching,” commented Renzo Rosso.

For more information:
Shanghai Fashion Week Schedule
YU PRIZE

Photo: Courtesy of Yu Prize