DON'T MISS A THING

Being present in a room with one of Guo Pei’s couture fashion creations is indescribable in words; it is truly a sight to behold. For over 25 years, China’s most renowned couturier, Guo Pei, has been empowering through her exquisite works of fashion art. Each design element, each material choice, each stitch. Throughout her work, Guo shares her love for her cultural heritage, bringing a modern touch to centuries-old embroidery and painting traditions. 

Guo began sewing at the early age of two and explains her lifelong passion for couture as rooted in her childhood dream: “an aspiration to perfection, born from the contemplation of beauty.” After graduating at the top of her class from the Beijing School of Industrial Design and designing for major brands, she launched her label, Rose Studio.

It was then, in 1997, with her own atelier that Guo began passing her knowledge to a new generation of embroiderers. Today, over 500 skilled artisans help produce Guo Pei’s magnificent creations. A feat that can sometimes take thousands of hours and up to two years to finish. Offering beautifully classic daywear, elegant gowns, and elaborate haute couture works of art, as well as costumes for films, the Olympics, and beyond, Guo Pei’s creations radiate intoxicating savoir-faire.

In 2025, Guo Pei collaborated with porcelain artist Master Tan Guanghui to create “Glazed Splendor”, the stunning look featured on the cover of this edition. The talented duo co-created this majestic work of wearable art featuring over 6,000 painstakingly hand-painted Guangcai porcelain tiles. The project was commissioned by UBS in collaboration with K11 Craft & Guild Foundation and showcased at Art Basel Hong Kong.

Love Happens had the joy of interviewing Guo Pei; read on and be empowered by her passion, creativity, and distinct approach to the world of fashion!

An LH Exclusive Interview with Guo Pei

Love Happens Mag: As our name denotes, we are firm believers that you cannot achieve any level of success without love. When did your love affair with the art of couture fashion begin?

Guo Pei: That’s absolutely true. Love, to me, is the greatest force in humanity—a power both invisible and immense. It inspires sacrifice, devotion, and boundless creativity.

My love story with couture began when I was just a child. My mother, who had difficulty seeing, would sew garments for our family by touch alone. I would sit beside her, watching closely, and I made a quiet promise to myself: when I grew up, I would help her finish what she couldn’t. That was the first seed of love—love for my mother, and love for making.

Later, my grandmother nurtured my natural love for beauty. At 15, I came across the term “fashion design” for the first time, and it felt like a match was struck in my heart. From that moment on, everything I have done in my career has been driven by love.

Many of my creations were never made for commercial purposes. They were acts of pure love, given freely to the world. I hope my work remains as a record of this moment in time—its memories, its spirit, its emotions, and perhaps even its standards. That kind of legacy can only come from a love that is deeply rooted and profoundly real.

LH: Tell us about how the preservation of Chinese traditions and techniques transpires in your work.

Guo: I am Chinese. Chinese culture is not something I learned—it is something I was born into. It flows in my veins, like blood. It is my language, my instinct, my foundation.

I was born, raised, and educated on this land. I have never left my homeland, and the connection I feel to it is inseparable from who I am. It is not just cultural—it is personal, emotional, and spiritual.

When I travel the world and encounter other cultures, I am deeply curious. The unfamiliar excites me and expands my understanding. Western aesthetics spark my imagination and lead me to explore. But when it comes to expressing what I feel, I return to my own culture—it is the only language that fully conveys my soul.

So my creations are always rooted in who I am. The Chinese elements are not a choice—they are part of my being. And the Western influences you might see? They’re glimpses of my curiosity, my explorations, and my evolving perspective.

LH: What does the process of creating mean to you?

Guo: Inspiration is a mysterious thing. Sometimes it feels like it’s already inside me, waiting to be awakened. A song, a film, a museum, even a street or a building—these can all trigger something buried deep within me. Suddenly, that emotion bursts forth, and I feel an overwhelming need to express it.

Other times, inspiration feels as if it’s being downloaded from the universe. I’ve stood in cathedrals where I didn’t understand the meaning of the saints or symbols, but still, something divine touched me, pierced my heart, and I felt compelled to create. In those moments, design becomes my language—my way of sharing what words cannot describe.

When inspiration strikes, the initial design often comes very quickly. I sketch fast, because if I miss that fleeting moment, I may never recapture it. That’s why I love sketching on airplanes—I feel closer to the heavens, and inspiration flows freely.

But after that comes the long journey: choosing materials, refining techniques, solving problems. Often, my vision surpasses what current craftsmanship can achieve. That’s when innovation is born—when you push boundaries to meet the standard that lives in your imagination.

Near the end of the process, I still often feel something is missing. But when the piece finally appears on the runway—or in a museum, standing in silence—it feels whole. It becomes something beyond me, like a living being. I am only its mother. It will grow, it will journey through time, and perhaps, it will outlive me. That is its destiny.

LH: Who is Guo Pei, the woman?

Guo: She is a courageous woman. Creative, determined, and filled with love—for the world, for people, for every leaf and stone. She has the heart of a child and carries a fairytale kingdom within her. She dreams, she imagines, but most importantly, she dares.

LH: What is the legacy of Guo Pei?

Guo: I believe my work, like my life, can offer something to the future. Whether it’s in the form of craftsmanship, material innovation, cultural memory, or philosophical thought, I hope my creations will serve as a bridge across time and space.

I want my legacy to be holistic—360 degrees—touching both the spiritual and the tangible. I hope my designs will not only record this moment in history but also inspire generations to come. If one day, someone looks at my work and feels moved to think differently, feel deeply, or dream boldly, then that is the legacy I wish to leave behind.

All Photos Courtesy of Guo Pei | “Glazed Splendor” Photos Courtesy of UBS and the K11 Craft & Guild Foundation
Interview by Anna Beck Bimba

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