Octavia Yang

Hermes show a galloping success

Chinese designer teams with Swarovski

It has been less than two years since 27-year-old Yang Xiaozi, a graduate of the London College of Fashion, won an International Talent Support award sponsored by Swarovski, and thereafter founded her jewelry line Octavia Yang.

But her jewelry, inspired by traditional Chinese culture, has already made its mark, being a favorite choice in fashion magazines and often seen adorning the necks and wrists of local and international fashionistas.

Her best known collection, Joinery in Jewels, was inspired by traditional Chinese carpentry, in which pieces are joined together without nails or glue. For the collection, she replaced the wood with silver and Swarovski crystal with the help of modern techniques like laser cutting, 3D printing and silverwork so that each jewelry piece can be restructured.

The exhibits at the World Jewelry Facets, including necklaces and earrings, tell "a more feminine story", as the designer put it. The collection, named kou, the Chinese word for button, refers to the first button that secures the front of the traditional Chinese dress, or qipao, "the symbolic last line of defense for a woman".

"Ladies wear qipao far less often nowadays. But I still love the idea that behind the kou, lies her innermost secrets and curvy silhouette," says Yang.

Style tips from Yang: "Be colorful. There is always a color in the jewelry pieces that will go with your look. Jewels especially highlight the all-black look."

Shopping information: Yang's collection will soon be available at Shanghai's Ooak at 124 Taiyuan Road, Xuhui district (上海市徐汇区太原路124号, 021-5424-8929).