Gone are the times when fashions needed to gown like a clean canvas for his or her numerous go-sees. This new crop of fashions are embracing their private model and expressing their individuality by their vogue selections—be it with denims and a tee, or an announcement gown. Each month, Vogue is diving into the fashionable wardrobe of a buzzy mannequin of the second, to see what they put on to their casting calls. This isn’t any outdated clothes haul! 

This month, meet mannequin Hejia Li. After being found again in 2021, Li made her first catwalk look for Bottega Veneta—not a foul beginning gig. Li, who hails from Wenzhou in China’s southeastern province Zhejian, has since signed with The Trade Mannequin Administration and, this New York Vogue Week alone, has walked for labels together with Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Proenza Schouler, and Altuzarra. She has additionally graced the duvet of Vogue China, and starred in main campaigns for manufacturers equivalent to Louis Vuitton.

Beneath, Li discusses her discovery story, her favourite project thus far, and what’s in her closet. (Trace: She doesn’t comply with tendencies.)

Vogue: What was your discovery story?

Hejia Li: Again in 2021, I stumbled upon a golden alternative. I despatched my pictures to my Chinese language company, Esee Mannequin Administration, and received known as in for an interview, and determined to signal on when it felt proper. Shortly after, I used to be strolling for Matthieu Blazy’s Bottega Veneta fall 2023 present in Beijing.