We were lucky to catch up with Xiaowu Zheng recently and have shared our conversation below.
Xiaowu, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I arrived in the United States when I was 16 years old in pursuit of Fashion Design, despite my family’s overwhelming discouragement back in China. I remember my mother saying, “If you can’t do well here (in China), how do you know if you will be any good at anything else?” At the time, I didn’t know what would happen in the future. Still, I had to believe in myself and keep moving, regardless of all the outside noises, because that was the only choice I had to escape the suffocating environment I was in. I spent months developing my fashion portfolio on top of my regular high school schedule and attending other required academic tests. I was fortunate enough to receive an offer letter and a scholarship from Pratt Institute, and that’s where my story began.
During college, I entered the top 4 designer spots in a competition that the American sportswear brand ’47 had conducted. Before the runway show, a professor looked at my collection and asked me if I was happy with my work, to which I replied yes. Then he turned around and said: “If it’s me, I wouldn’t be.” Though the response took me, I presented my work with pride on the show day. I received interviews from Highsnobiety and Office Magazine, which eventually validated my design and accomplishment. But my point is regardless of the people who try to tear you down; you must understand your self-worth and bulldoze through difficult situations.
I have encountered office politics and intentional sabotage throughout my professional career working with different labels as a designer. Regardless of the conflicts, I have always stood my ground, which has led to my current position as the fashion designer for international brands PUMA, Scotch & Soda, and Hurley. The road to achieving your dream is not going to be easy, but it is crucial to keep moving and not let the negativity affect your ability to work.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Outside the corporate sphere, I have been a curator and artist, actively working on fashion exhibitions with art organizations such as Culture Lab LIC and CICA Museum (Czong Institute for Contemporary Art). I have also consistently created my personal fashion collections as the sole creative director and designer. I have showcased my work prior at Spring Studios during NYFW and Harvard University alike. For the upcoming collection, I’ll work around the concept of “Convertible Couture,” merging utilitarian construction with high-end materials and craftsmanship, creating pieces such as a gown silhouette oversized winter coat that can be transformed into a backpack for portability.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
First, being patient and humble to learn from others and progress in your craft is essential. Second, it is okay to feel down, but always remember to pull yourself back up. The third, which I also need to work on, is to enjoy and cherish the moment. For upcoming fashion designers, I wish you to be bold and experiment. You will grow from all the trial and error, which eventually becomes an invaluable experience for your career.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
By working with various brands and corporations, I have learned the hard way that it is crucial to look for the work environment that you’ll be exposing yourself to as a designer. To me, the ideal client (brand) is an entity that encourages healthy work relationships and has a sense of compassion towards its designers. The fashion industry is highly competitive and fast-paced, but we need to work together with peace of mind to continue growing the business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.xiaowuzheng.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xiaowu_zheng_ishere/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiaowu-zheng-b78b87198/
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