Budding ROMANCE

Following his sensational autumn/winter 2024 Dream in Bloom couture showing in Paris, Chinese designer Cheney Chan speaks to Vogue Singapore on his process and influences.

- BRYAN HO

In recent years, the influx of Asian designers making waves within the fashion world has been undeniable. Pushing boundaries and reinventing the wheel in their own ways, these designers have grown to be steadfast favourites among the fashion-fluent. Think Robert Wun’s showstopping collections that are now a staple on the fashion week calendar, Isa Boulder’s slinky and subversive swimwear or even Duy Tran’s Fancì Club that has resonated globally with fans of the Y2K aesthetic.

Another Asian brand that is pushing the narrative forward is Chinese couture label Cheney Chan, which recently gained popularity for its viral celebrity dressings and runway clips on social media platforms. At the helm of this buzzy brand is 32-yearold founder and creative director Cheney Chan. A self-taught fashion designer, Chan was born and raised in a small city in Jiangsu province to a traditional Chinese household. “Growing up, my parents always wanted me to be a pilot,” he shares. “I had cleared all the flying tests effortlessly back in high school, but it was unfortunately not where my heart lay.” Eventually, he would make it out on his own, pursuing a fashion media degree at Peking University before starting his namesake label in 2012.