Kering Partners with Shanghai Fashion Week to Develop Next Generation of Chinese Fashion Talent Through International Residency

Kering CRAFT cohort, from left to right: YU Gengyi, XIA Rong, LONGHONG Ziwei, ZHONG Zixin, HU Nan, CAI Jiaen, QI Yueqi, WANG Fengchen, XU Hao, WEI Donghui

(IN BRIEF) Kering has announced the first group of 10 fellows selected for its Kering CRAFT program, a new international residency developed in partnership with Shanghai Fashion Week to support emerging Chinese designers. The initiative received over 100 applications and selected participants based on creativity, craftsmanship, and future potential. The program will take designers across major fashion capitals including Milan, Paris, and Shanghai, offering mentorship, hands-on learning, and cultural exchange. The selected fellows represent a new generation of talent blending Chinese cultural heritage with global design perspectives. With guidance from industry leaders, including Gucci’s Artistic Director Demna, the program aims to foster innovation, sustainability, and business development while supporting the emergence of globally relevant Chinese fashion brands. The residency will culminate in a final showcase at Shanghai Fashion Week 2027.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 30-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Kering has unveiled the first cohort of fellows selected for its newly launched Kering CRAFT initiative – Creative Residency for Artisanship, Fashion and Technology. Developed in collaboration with Shanghai Fashion Week, the program is designed to nurture emerging Chinese designers while strengthening creative exchange between China and the global fashion community. The residency will take participants through an international journey spanning Milan, Paris, and Shanghai.

Following the opening of applications in December 2025, the program attracted more than 100 submissions from promising designers. The final selection of 10 fellows was made in March 2026 through a comprehensive evaluation process led jointly by Kering, Shanghai Fashion Week, and the Kering CRAFT Advisory Board. The panel assessed candidates based on originality, craftsmanship, product excellence, growth potential, and their ability to reflect evolving luxury trends.

CAI Jinqing, President of Kering Greater China, emphasized the significance of the inaugural cohort, highlighting the fellows’ creativity, unique perspectives, and strong potential to represent the next wave of Chinese design talent. He also noted the importance of cultural dialogue and collaboration throughout the residency as a means of enriching the broader creative ecosystem.

The selected fellows, specializing in both fashion and jewelry design, bring diverse creative approaches that blend cultural heritage with contemporary global influences. Many of their works reinterpret elements of Chinese philosophy and tradition within a modern fashion context, reflecting a balance between local identity and international appeal.

Demna, Artistic Director of Gucci and a member of the advisory board, expressed enthusiasm for supporting emerging Chinese designers. He highlighted the country’s strong foundation in creativity, innovation, and technical expertise, and its potential to shape the future of the fashion industry.

The Kering CRAFT program is structured to provide an immersive learning experience, combining hands-on training, mentorship from leading global experts, and cross-cultural exchange. It aims to support participants in developing craftsmanship, innovation capabilities, business acumen, and sustainable design practices. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to foster the growth of Chinese fashion brands that are deeply rooted in local culture while achieving global relevance.

The inaugural cohort includes ten designers and creatives:

CAI Jiaen, fashion designer, J E CAI
HU Nan, fashion designer, Nan Knits
LONGHONG Ziwei, jewelry designer, Soft Mountains
QI Yueqi, fashion designer, YUEQI QI
WANG Fengchen, fashion designer, Feng Chen Wang
WEI Donghui, fashion designer, JACQUES WEI
XIA Rong, fashion designer, macro’SENSES
XU Hao, jewelry designer, qiqi
YU Gengyi, jewelry designer, Midnight Opera House
ZHONG Zixin, fashion designer, Zhong Zixin

The residency will begin in May with its first European stop in Italy. Upon completing the full program, participants will present a final creative project during Shanghai Fashion Week 2027, showcasing the outcomes of their international experience.

Bios of the cohort fellows can be found in the annex of the press release. 

The cohort will embark on the international learning journey of Kering CRAFT in May, visiting Italy as the first stop in Europe. Leveraging the learnings acquired, after the completion of all modules of the residency, the Kering CRAFT fellows will present a final creative project during Shanghai Fashion Week 2027.

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About Kering

Kering is a global, family-led luxury group, home to people whose passion and expertise nurture creative Houses across couture and ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and beauty: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. Inspired by their creative heritage, Kering Houses design and craft exceptional products and experiences that reflect the Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability and culture. This vision is expressed in our signature: Creativity is our Legacy. In 2025, Kering employed 44,000 people and generated revenue of €14.7 billion.

About Shanghai Fashion Week

As a reputed City Name Card, Shanghai Fashion Week, relying on the urban heritage and cultural confidence of Shanghai, a century-old fashion capital, adheres to the positioning philosophy of “integration of local and international visions” and “balance between creative design and commercial implementation”. In the past 20 years, it has evolved from a merely fashion showcase platform to a fashion eco landscape, which runs through the entire fashion industry, and is commented as “the world’s most dynamic fashion week”.

Contacts

Roger HE       + 86 (21) 6185 3528       roger.he@kering.com

Yun JIANG       + 86 (21) 6185 3683       yun.jiang@kering.com

Emilie GARGATTE        + 33 (0)1 45 64 61 20       emilie.gargatte@kering.com

SOURCE: Kering