'Peng Liyuan style' designer named adjunct professor

Ma Ke, the designer behind the so-called "Peng Liyuan style," was named adjunct professor yesterday by Suzhou University where she studied fashion design 21 years ago, the Yangtze Evening News reported.

Peng has enchanted the public with her outfits of understated elegance ever since she disembarked from the plane with her husband, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Moscow on March 22. Peng's walking down those steps also signified designer Ma Ke stepping into the spotlight.

As Ma has a definite style of her own, long braid, linen dress and white linen handbag, she looked simple but elegant during the ceremony; even without a splash of makeup on.

Ma told the newspaper that her relationship with Peng began in 2002 after a reporter from Guangzhou TV Station told Peng she knew the designer behind the label Exception de Mixmind. Peng asked for an introduction because she was a big fan of the brand's clothing and had in fact been wearing them for years. The two became friends after their first meeting, and Ma designed a costume for Peng's performance at the 2003 Spring Festival Gala.

"In most people's eyes, Peng is like a star, a famous singer. But to me, she is more like an amiable sister with her own ideals," said Ma. According to her, both of them were passionate about public welfare, environmental protection and music. "It was the same values that we both believed in that brought about our cooperation," added Ma.

Ma's life hasn't changed much after she sort of created a new First Lady fashion icon. "Some media reported Peng's style as being custom-designed, but I would like to call it 'specially designed'," said Ma.

She emphasized that she has never considered using advanced customization to promote her brand, even though her special designs for Peng turned out to be a hit. "This is my sole special customization and there won't be a second one," Ma noted. "Currently I am devoted to developing my 'Wu Yong' workshop and I will focus on making that a success."

In 1996, Ma and her ex-husband together founded Exception in Guangzhou. In 2006, she left the city, retaining the title of artistic consultant at Exception, and established a new label called Wu Yong (the Chinese word for "useless"), a charity and eco-fashion workshop promoting heritage craftsmanship in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province.

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