The technique of origami featured heavily in Yang Fang’s fall 2019 collection for Atelier By Fang, the couture line of the fashion label she established in 2013 upon returning to her hometown of Shanghai after studying fashion at Esmod in Paris.

“Kids nowadays play on iPhones and iPads, but when I was little I used to play with paper,” said the designer, speaking at her first couture presentation in Paris. “My grandmother used to give me sheets of white paper and taught me how to transform them into small animals like frogs and elephants, or stars and flowers. When I arrived at Esmod, I started doing the same thing with fabrics, in order to pay homage to my Asian heritage.”

A stunning black-and-white midi shiftdress was made of hundreds of hand-folded silk organza flowers. At their center were eye-catching Swarovski crystals. The brand was the first Chinese label to be tapped by the jeweler as part of its support program for young designers, and the partnership has been going on for nine seasons.