China Beauty Charity Fund (“CBCF”) will celebrate its inaugural China Fashion Night Gala on September 6, 2013 at the Pierre Hotel. CBCF’s mission is to improve the lives of women and children through sustainable economic growth; it aims to foster international understanding through cultural and academic exchanges by providing grants to empower Chinese women to achieve equality, autonomy and to fulfill their potential.
Accordingly, the Gala will benefit CBCF’s Scholarship Fund at the Fashion Institute of Technology (“FIT”) to afford talented creatives from China the opportunity to study at FIT in NYC. The scholarship is further supported by Fashion 4 Development’s (“F4D”) internship program which will place graduates with global brands and give them access to angel investments to start their own businesses.
“Some of the world’s most successful Chinese artists today, such as Tan Dun, Lang Lang, Cai Guo-Qiang, Zhang Huan and many more have all studied or worked in NYC and have benefited tremendously from this experience which has helped to shape their distinguished careers. I wish to do the same for talented Chinese individuals in fashion by giving them that same opportunity to advance and achieve great success” explains CBCF Founder and Chairwoman, Yue-Sai Kan. A notable Chinese American entrepreneur who is a media icon and a household name in China, Kan produced and hosted two hit television series that introduced the East to American audiences and the world to China. Moreover, she was a pioneer in beauty, founding the first cosmetic brand — Yue Sai — in China. Kan also was the first celebrity of Chinese descent to serve as UNICEF’s Global “Say Yes” Ambassador and has developed numerous cultural exchange initiatives between China and the United States. Through CBCF, she is committed to bringing positive change to the lives of women and children through the power of “beauty” – which in the Chinese language denotes generosity, honesty, dignity and uplifting of the human spirit.
With Chinese American actor of CSI fame Archie Kao and Miss Universe Olivia Culpo as Master and Mistress of Ceremonies respectively, the Gala will honor Chinese fashion pioneer Vivienne Tam, who is celebrated for her commitment to supporting emerging designers. Supermodel Petra Nemcova will present the award to Tam, who was the first successful Chinese designer in the US and has been dedicated to providing opportunities to rising talent from China.
Born in China, raised in Hong Kong and designing in New York, Tam effortlessly blends her cultural roots with a modern design vocabulary recognized for its artistry, form and attention to detail. Known for innovation and exotic imagery,
Tam’s collections explore the creativity and positive energy that comes from bridging cultures and incorporating a contemporary aspect to traditional forms – which will be evident in her upcoming Spring 2014 collection to be shown at Lincoln Center on September 8 during NY Fashion Week.
CBCF also is proud to introduce China’s preeminent haute couture designer, Guo Pei, whose exquisite creations will be showcased for the very first time in the US. Guo’s debut presentation features acclaimed pieces from her “Legend of the Dragon” collection, including a gown inspired by stained glass domes of European churches and a gown adorned with several thousand “Gong Hua”, silk flowers made exclusively for the royal palace and were rescued from the storage room of a deserted factory and carefully restored with steam — the entire process took nearly 50,000 hours. Guo’s designs are known for merging modern influences with classic Chinese elements, from embroidery to traditional patterns; her ability to highlight and preserve the origins of Chinese fashion, with contemporary and artistic influences transcends geography and has secured her the distinct honor of being awarded the commission for the ceremonial dresses featured during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Guo’s sculptural creations made at her magnificent Rose Studio, have drawn admirers around the world such as big screen actress Zhang Ziyi, Fan Bing Bing and Lady Gaga.
As a celebration of artistry in all forms, the Gala will feature a special performance by renowned Chinese American opera singer Hao Jiang Tian and his I Sing Ensemble along with a live auction that includes the work of important Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang to an audience that will include author Amy Tan, supermodel Du Juan, model Carmen dell’Orefice, HRH The Princess of Udaipur Padmaja Kumari Parmar, Iconix China President Veronica Chou, designer Tadashi Shoji, fashion designer Zang Toi, art curator Stacy Engman and many other notable guests from the realms of fashion, art, design, film, music, business and politics.
