YA YI

Yayi Chen Zhou

Chinese designer Yayi Chen Zhou launched her eponymous brand, YA YI, in New York in 2022. Her multicultural upbringing in Spain, China, and the US inspires her work, which integrates performance, film, and installation art to blend ancient tales with modern sensibilities, creating a unique space at the intersection of fashion design and contemporary art. During her study at the Parsons School of Design, Chen’s work has been recognized with awards such as the CFDA Scholarship Award and the International Design Award. She gained valuable experience at renowned New York fashion houses including The Row, Thom Browne, and AREA. YA YI has been featured in Vogue, Dazed, WWD, Harper’s Bazaar, T Magazine, Nowness, SHOWstudio, and Fashion Film Festival Milano. The brand has won the Talents Lineapiù Award and was selected as a semi-finalist for the LVMH Prize in 2024.