Designer Masha Ma says China needs to ditch 'Made in China' concept for fashion to thrive
Masha Ma is down to earth when it comes to fashion design and building an international brand
Masha Ma might be a romanticist of fashion yet, when it comes down to business, she's a pure realist.
"Anyone can be a designer. I want to build a brand - an international brand from China, based in China and made in China," says the 30-year-old as she meets with us at W Hotel Hong Kong.
Wrapped in her own design - an all-black cocoon jacket and skirt ensemble, matched with chunky Stella McCartney kicks - Ma means business.
Ma is acknowledged among the new generation of Chinese contemporary fashion designers, often mentioned in the same breath as Qiu Hao, Zhang Huishan and Xander Zhou, who share a foreign education, modern style and prolific activities on the international stage.
Born in Beijing, Ma honed her fashion design skills at London's prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. While she was at school, Ma worked as an intern with Alexander McQueen and Veronique Branquinho.
"Working alongside McQueen has taught me to do fashion for fashion's sake and to put my emotions into making the dresses," she says.
Her graduation collection was a hit during London Fashion Week, and Ma has been riding in the fast lane to fame ever since.
Since her debut at Paris Fashion Week in 2011, Ma has been showing her collection twice a year there and has won positive response from critics and buyers.