Yueqi Qi doesn’t have to look far for inspiration; her husband plays in a rock band in Shanghai, and their worlds collide in Qi’s hardcore spring 2022 collection. His band even performed in a video Qi produced this season with Vogue China; in it they wear iridescent eyeshadow, spiky wigs, and unisex versions of her checkered trousers and lacy shirts.
Qi is a designer who pulls from her own experiences; early collections were rooted in her Chinese heritage and folklore. But as her label expands and matures—she recently got a boost of exposure from GucciFest and the Gucci Vault—she’s venturing beyond her borders. Spring 2022’s tougher edge marked a new direction (the collection’s title, Bright Lights Big City, nodded to New York), but it was elevated by her signature beading and embellishments, seen best in the heart-shaped chainmail dresses and pieced-together sequin tops.
Qi spent a year interning in Chanel’s couture department, and during the pandemic, her passion for craft became newly meaningful: As the shops and cafés in her Guangzhou neighborhood closed, she went door to door hiring women to help her sew, bead, and embellish her garments. Qi trained them and continues to work with them today. It’s just one example of how a brand can support its community and find a higher purpose, wherever it happens to be in the world.
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