We are delighted to announce that Karen Chan, Founder and Creative Director of the avant-garde Chinese fashion brand SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN, has been officially nominated for the Milan Fashion Awards in the prestigious category Best Fashion Designer.
Karen Chan, Founder and Creative Director of SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN, stands as a visionary force in contemporary cultural couture. Internationally acclaimed for redefining the traditional cheongsam into a sophisticated East-meets-West fashion language, she has successfully elevated Chinese heritage onto the global luxury stage.
Her work has been recognized by leading cultural institutions including the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong History Museum, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office, and the historic Sam Tung Uk Museum — where she was entrusted to reinterpret priceless artworks into wearable art of the New Hong Kong–Chinese era. Through these collaborations, Karen has transformed intangible cultural heritage into a modern global fashion narrative.
Karen Chan has presented her collections at major international fashion capitals including Milan, Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Bangkok, establishing SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN as a cross-cultural fashion ambassador.
Her high-profile collaboration with the Hong Kong blockbuster film Back To The Past, featuring iconic black-and-gold contemporary qipaos, as well as the Limited Edition “Back To The Past” Be@rbrick, further cemented her brand as a powerful fashion IP bridging cinema, art, and couture.
Beyond her runway achievements, Karen holds influential public cultural roles, including Chairman of the Arts Promotion Committee under the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), reinforcing her commitment to shaping the future of fashion through heritage, innovation, and artistic leadership.
Karen Chan’s nomination for Best Fashion Designer recognizes not only her design excellence, but her global cultural impact, institutional recognition, and dedication to redefining traditional craftsmanship for the modern world.