Caroline Hu

New York-based, China-born designer Caroline Hu launched her eponymous label in 2018 and quickly became famous for her romantic dresses in sophisticated fabrics, which earned her the inaugural Business of Fashion China Prize and an LVMH Prize nomination in just two years. She was also recently selected as one of 10 Asian Designers to Watch by Fashion Asia Hong Kong. Popular demand has led Hu to expand her range for the first time this season—her designs are now stocked by retailers like Moda Operandi.

How did you first come to realise you wanted to work in fashion?

I studied oil painting and art from an early age. My family has always been very passionate about the arts, so naturally, I wanted to find my own creative outlet as I grew up. Later, I discovered an interest in working with fabrics, so I decided that fashion design would be my expression of choice.

What was your first job and what was the experience like?