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Pierre Cardin Spring/Summer 2008 Collection in Dunhuang

He first experienced China 30 years ago, but fashion master Pierre Cardin has broken new ground in haute couture adventure with his spring/summer 2008 collection show on the ancient Silk Road at a stop called Dunhuang.

Fang Fang and Sylvie Zhang, chief representative and deputy chief representative to China of Pierre Cardin, said the entire Pierre Cardin Spring/Summer 2008 Collection show took place on the vast Whistling-Sand Mountain (Mingsha Shan) desert in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. The fabled emissary/adventurer Marco Polo, who arrived in China via the Silk Road 700 years ago, was in mind as Cardin employed his special brand of originality to imply that this is the only way Europeans can gain acceptance in the Orient.

The theme of Pierre Cardin Spring/Summer 2008 Collection is "Marco Polo." As before, the clothes of this season are divided into three different series: "Venice," "Silk Road" and "Xanadu." Cardin and his chief designer Sergio Altieri, who's been working with Cardin for many years, featured nearly 200 garments in the desert exhibition. A Venetian mask, Chinese dragon, dance and kung fu were used to connect the three parts of the show. Without a heavy or complicated set, models emerged from one end of a sand dune, taking a 280-metre serpentine path "along the Silk Road." As they walked, the sun behind them gradually fell from view, leaving searing red clouds to serve as a backdrop for the stage.

As the show's climax, a model in a wedding gown emerged slowly on a camel. The scene resembled an ancient Chinese wedding band on camels. One more eye-catching touch was Cardin's use of "Chinese red," which dominated most of the show. All the robes used were of pure Chinese red, except the wedding dress! This was a specific design for China by Cardin, with the highlight of the accessories—a big copper lock-like piece of jewellery hanging on model's chest or waist—the inspiration of a traditional Chinese door's lock, show displaying the creator's great originality and creativity.