An image from Howl Collective's new photo collection of Guo Pei's best-known designs.
An image from Howl Collective's new photo collection of Guo Pei's best-known designs.
© Howl Collective.
Guo in known for the intricate detailing on her garments, which can take years to complete.
Guo in known for the intricate detailing on her garments, which can take years to complete.
Photograph by HOWL Collective/Courtesy of SCAD
Guo's ornate creations have appeared on runways, red carpets, big-budget Chinese movies and major museum exhibitions.
Guo's ornate creations have appeared on runways, red carpets, big-budget Chinese movies and major museum exhibitions.
Photograph by HOWL Collective/Courtesy of SCAD
Guo's elaborate creations have made her a designer of choice for Chinese celebrities.
Guo's elaborate creations have made her a designer of choice for Chinese celebrities.
Photograph by HOWL Collective/Courtesy of SCAD
Guo often incorporates elements of traditional Chinese design into her work.
Guo often incorporates elements of traditional Chinese design into her work.
Photograph by HOWL Collective/Courtesy of SCAD
Guo is known for her use of gold, pearls and other lavish materials.
Guo is known for her use of gold, pearls and other lavish materials.
Photograph by HOWL Collective/Courtesy of SCAD
Guo is known for her expertise in embroidery and artistic understanding of fashion.
"Arabian 1002th Night" collection —
Guo is known for her expertise in embroidery and artistic understanding of fashion.
Courtesy Guo Pei
This dress, called "Dajin," was embroidered with gold and pearls, requiring more than 50,000 hours of work.
"Samsara" collection —
This dress, called "Dajin," was embroidered with gold and pearls, requiring more than 50,000 hours of work.
Guo Pei
Rihanna wore this bright yellow creation to the 2015 <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F05%2F02%2Ffashion%2Fmet-gala-2016%2F">Met Gala</a>. Guo Pei and her team spent around 8,000 hours working on the garment.
"Arabian 1002th Night" collection —
Rihanna wore this bright yellow creation to the 2015 Met Gala. Guo Pei and her team spent around 8,000 hours working on the garment.
timothy a clary/afp/getty
Guo designed a costume for opera singer Song Zuying's performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics closing ceremony.
"Arabian 1002th Night" collection —
Guo designed a costume for opera singer Song Zuying's performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics closing ceremony.
Guo Pei
Guo's Spring-Summer 2010 collection showcased 16 works, and featured model Carmen Dell'Orefice, who was 78 years old at the time.
"Arabian 1002th Night" collection —
Guo's Spring-Summer 2010 collection showcased 16 works, and featured model Carmen Dell'Orefice, who was 78 years old at the time.
Guo Pei
The collection included origami-like, three-dimensional boleros with ornate gold applique, as well as elaborate metallic headgear.
"Arabian 1002th Night" collection —
The collection included origami-like, three-dimensional boleros with ornate gold applique, as well as elaborate metallic headgear.
Guo Pei
Guo fused elements of Arabic culture and attire with her own Chinese aesthetics for the collection.
"Arabian 1002th Night" collection —
Guo fused elements of Arabic culture and attire with her own Chinese aesthetics for the collection.
Courtesy Guo Pei
The collection also featured a Japanese-inspired dress.
"Arabian 1002th Night" collection —
The collection also featured a Japanese-inspired dress.
Courtesy Guo Pei
In 1982, Guo was accepted into the Beijing School of Industrial Design, where she studied drawing, sketching and pattern-making. She began her career as a children's clothing designer in 1987 and opened her own venture, called Rose Studio, with her husband in 1997.
"An Amazing Journey in a Childhood Dream" collection —
In 1982, Guo was accepted into the Beijing School of Industrial Design, where she studied drawing, sketching and pattern-making. She began her career as a children's clothing designer in 1987 and opened her own venture, called Rose Studio, with her husband in 1997.
Courtesy Guo Pei
In her 2007 collection, "An Amazing Journey in a Childhood Dream," Guo tells a fairy tale from a child's perspective.
"An Amazing Journey in a Childhood Dream" collection —
In her 2007 collection, "An Amazing Journey in a Childhood Dream," Guo tells a fairy tale from a child's perspective.
Courtesy Guo Pei
Garments from Guo's 2015 "Garden of the Soul" collection.
"Garden of the Soul" collection —
Garments from Guo's 2015 "Garden of the Soul" collection.
Guo Pei
The designer celebrated the Chinese year of the dragon with her mythology-inspired collection, "Legend of the Dragon," in 2012.
"Legend of the Dragon" collection —
The designer celebrated the Chinese year of the dragon with her mythology-inspired collection, "Legend of the Dragon," in 2012.
Courtesy Guo Pei
The dragon is considered an auspicious symbol in Chinese culture, and represents strength, power and good fortune.
"Legend of the Dragon" collection —
The dragon is considered an auspicious symbol in Chinese culture, and represents strength, power and good fortune.
Courtesy Guo Pei
Guo's collection brought dragon motifs to life through golden embroidery and crystal embellishments.
"Legend of the Dragon" collection —
Guo's collection brought dragon motifs to life through golden embroidery and crystal embellishments.
Courtesy Guo Pei
The collection took Guo and her team almost three years to complete.
"Legend of the Dragon" collection —
The collection took Guo and her team almost three years to complete.
Courtesy Guo Pei
One of the dresses in the collection, called Dragon Lady, incorporates 465,756 hand-beaded pearls.
"Legend of the Dragon" collection —
One of the dresses in the collection, called Dragon Lady, incorporates 465,756 hand-beaded pearls.
Courtesy Guo Pei