Sharp tailoring, sculptural silhouettes and emotive storytelling have become hallmarks of Claudia Li’s designs, and it’s this distinctive approach that has made her one of the New Zealand fashion industry’s most compelling talents. Her portfolio spans New York Fashion Week and the halls of the Met – and now she’s added another accolade to her name: FQ’s Designer of the Year for 2025.
Born in China and raised in New Zealand by an art dealer father and opera singer mother, Li’s world view came into focus through artists’ eyes. After completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Li went on to study at Central Saint Martins in London and completed her MFA at Parsons School of Design in New York. She spent her early career working under some of the most influential voices in fashion – working as a womenswear designer at JW Anderson in London, followed by a stint under Brandon Maxwell at Haus of Gaga in New York.
In 2015, it was time for her own work to take the spotlight with the launch of her eponymous label, which quickly earned a spot on New York Fashion Week’s official schedule. Her approach is methodical, grounded in form, feeling, and the relationship between body and garment rather than trend.
“My creative process often begins with something instinctive that lingers – a feeling, a memory, a song, or sometimes a fleeting moment jotted down on a piece of paper,” Li says. “Instead of starting with sketches, I first experiment with proportions and shapes, letting them evolve in three dimensions.”
Another source of inspiration? Family. “To me, being a designer or being a brand is expressing yourself, trying to tell the story of you,” she told Fashion Quarterly in 2021. “Whatever my collection looks like, it all comes from my experiences and my upbringing, and my interaction with the world.”
Her distinctive, statement-making designs have been worn by instantly recognisable figures such as Michelle Obama, Bella Hadid and Lady Gaga, and have been exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. Other accolades include being named a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree in 2017 and becoming a US finalist for the International Woolmark Prize.
Now, a decade on from launching her namesake label, Li has returned to New Zealand soil with a new vision, and a slower, more sustainable approach to her fashion.
“The biggest risk I’ve taken in my career is taking some time off to be able to relax and focus on myself and my personal happiness,” she told Fashion Quarterly earlier this year. “It’s so important to take the time to care for yourself and find that balance between career and wellbeing.”
The next step on Li’s refreshed path? Her debut New Zealand Fashion Week show this August.
“There’s an exciting new wave of diverse, strong, and extremely creative talent pushing boundaries and redefining the fashion industry here in New Zealand – talent that deserves greater recognition,” Li says of the local industry. “This fresh energy is shaping a future that is more thoughtful and globally connected – one that balances craft, culture, and a deeper sense of purpose.”
We can’t wait to see what the next decade will bring.
