Rebirth of the Fashion King

In 2009, the chill of the financial crisis swept the globe, and the luxury goods industry teetered on the brink of collapse. Christian Lacroix declared bankruptcy, major brands laid off employees and closed stores, and the Parisian fashion scene was gripped by unease. In this coldest winter for the industry, Li Xun stood at 31 Rue Cambon. He was a Chanel designer, a student of Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Villede, having quietly toiled in this fashion mecca for four years. No one knew that this seemingly gifted young man from the East was actually a reincarnated individual with memories of the future. In his previous life, he barely entered an independent designer studio in Paris at the age of thirty, ultimately collapsing at his desk after a period of intense work. He woke up to find himself back in 1986, starting his life afresh with a pacifier. In 2009 Paris, Karl Lagerfeld was at the peak of his creative powers, John Galliano was putting on his final frenzy at Dior, Stefano Pilati was struggling to maintain his position at YSL, and Martin Magira was about to retire. This was the eve of the twilight of the fashion world, and also the final glory of an era.