Ping Wu

Biography

Ping Wu, a Chicago based Chinese fashion designer and physical therapist, came to the United States from Chengdu, China at the age of 17 to begin university studies in Biology, Psychology and Physical Rehabilitation. She studied both at the University of Pittsburgh and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, graduating from each institution with high honors. She has been in clinical practice in Outpatient Orthopedics and Geriatric Rehabilitation since 1998.

Concurrent with her work in physical therapy, Ping continued her passion for “hand work,” which she began as a child in China, making cards and ceramic pieces and creating clothing and accessories for friends. She discovered that she had a special devotion to fashion design and made the decision to quit “the perfect job” as a physical therapist and enroll in the Istituto Marangoni in Milan, Italy to study design.

After graduating from the Istituto, she interned with Milanese designer Luisa Beccaria, and later with BLESS in Paris. She returned to Chicago in August, 2006 to update her clinical practice while searching for work in the design field. Two months later, her design creations were selected for the Illinois Artisans Program, and promoted at artisan shops in the State Museum in Springfield and in Chicago’s James R. Thompson Center.

In March, ‘07, by invitation from the Chinese Fashion Association, she participated in the Qi Pai Cup Costume Creation Contest with seven other top Chinese women’s wear designers. This event was held in conjunction with the Beijing International Fashion Week. The French contest judges were so impressed by her scarf-designs that they invited her to present her creations at the Premiere Classe trade show in Paris, September ’07, and selected her designs for inclusion in Trendsetter // 01, Spring//Summer 08—a brochure given to all trade show visitors. In April ‘07, the MCA Store of the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art discovered her winter scarves collection and selected her as one of five accessory artists/ designers featured in a special event for MCA’s 40th anniversary celebration, Oct 27, ’07.

In May ’07, Ping Wu Design Studio was officially established in Chicago. Three months later, Ping returned to her hometown, Chengdu, and set up her production base and showroom. Thus, her life has come full circle. During her stay in China, she was interviewed by VISION magazine in Beijing for publication in the December ’07 issue. Her designs were featured in the Spanish fashion journal Pinker in November and December 2007

This past Feb, she successfully had her Fall/Winter Transformable collection of 2008 shown in Train Fashion Trade Show in New York City. Her buyers spread from Tokyo Japan, Paris France, to North America, including Chicago local store such as Elements.

Ping Wu’s creations stem from the personal wardrobe she created for herself because she could not find what she wanted in the market. They are modern and original in form, functional, and comfortable to wear.

All of Ping’s creations represent a genuine message from one woman’s heart to many others,
Who are like herself,
Who deserve only unique pieces
To accent a
Unique
Soul…
Ping W