Age: 48
Celeb Friends/Fans: Rihanna, Zhang Ziyi and Fan Bingbing
In The Business For: 28 years
What You Need to Know: We'd say the only thing you need to know about this couturier is what Rihanna wore to the 2015 Met Gala—a breathtaking (literally, the piece weighed a reported 55 pounds) yellow-and-gold robe with fur trim—but that'd be simplifying Pei's immense contribution to Chinese fashion and, in a larger sense, to the haute couture industry. Based in Beijing (although she opened up shop in Shanghai in 2013), the designer is the crème de la crème couturier in China (granted, after Rihanna's show-stopping Met Gala appearance, she may very well take on that role internationally in 2015), and shows collections about once every two years—near the amount of time that it takes to make some of her more elaborate designs.
Age: 45
Celeb Friends/Fans: Olivia Palermo, Lea Michele, Leighton Meester
In The Business For: 17 years
Brands Worked For: Bill Blass, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors
What You Need to Know: This San Francisco-native graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York in 1998 and in just a few years became one of the most coveted seats at New York Fashion Week. With a faithful celebrity following and a strong editorial presence, Som was and still is a designer to watch for on the runway.
Age: 32
Celeb Friends/Fans: Diane Kruger, Michelle Obama, Michelle Williams
In The Business For: 9 years
What You Need to Know: Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Wu shot to stardom in 2009 after designing Michelle Obama's first inauguration dress (you know, the airy, one-sleeve wonder that may be one of the most iconic inauguration gowns of all time). Since then, Wu has rubbed shoulders with Anna Wintour, designed a capsule collection for Target and partnered with celeb pal Diane Kruger on the covetable "Diane" satchel.
Age: 41
Celeb Friends/Fans: Kylie Jenner, Taylor Swift, Jessica Alba
In The Business For: 15+ years
Brands Worked For: Development, from 2000 to 2004
What You Need to Know: Born in Taiwan to Chinese parents, Lim became a major player in the world of ready-to-wear when he launched his eponymous 3.1 Phillip Lim collection with business partner Wen Zhou in 2005. Lim's success has bloomed since then: He even gained a coveted partnership with Target for an exclusive collection in 2013. Lim is known for presenting unfussy but highly conceptual clothing—and as the designer behind the celeb must-have "Pashli" handbag.
Age: 27
In The Business For: 4 years
Has Worked For: Raf Simmons
What You Need to Know: Li is a designer to look out for on the ready-to-wear runways, particularly for his play with structure, texture and fine details (for his fall-winter 2015 collection, a few of the models were wearing opera gloves). Born in Beijing, raised in Australia and educated in London, Li's international upbringing brings an air of otherworldly cool to his work.
Age: 31
Celeb Friends/Fans: Rihanna, Madonna, Kim Kardashian
In The Business For: 10 years
Brands Worked For: Balenciaga (named creative director in 2012)
What You Need to Know: Born in San Francisco, Wang made a name for himself by designing urban-chic clothes that became synonymous with the New York street style set. The designer, whose ready-to-wear runway shows are consistently attended by the cream of the celebrity crop, partnered with H&M on a capsule collection that was released to huge success in 2014.
Age: 28
Celeb Friends/Fans: Audrey Tautou, Kim Kardashian
In The Business For: 5+ years
Brands Worked For: Cacharel
What You Need to Know: Yin's artful and virtually seamless frocks made her a fixture on the runways at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, for good reason: The Paris-based designer—who was born in China but raised in the French capital city—continues to push boundaries with her lush, ethereal designs, which are now also featured in a ready-to-wear line that launched in 2014.
Age: 57
Celeb Friends/Fans: Serena Williams, Angela Simmons
In The Business For: 21+ years
What You Need to Know: Born in Guangzhou, China, Tam made a name for herself in 1994 with the debut of her namesake line—a brand that marries trends of the east and west into singular, cohesive collections each season. Tam's cross-cultural designs have been worn by celebs like Lea Michele, Susan Sarandon and Serena Williams on the red carpet, proving that her aesthetic defies boundaries of age and body type.
Age: 47 or 48
Celeb Friends/Fans: Solange Knowles, Jessica Alba, Kristen Stewart
In The Business For: 25 years
Brands Worked For: Michael Kors, Tod's
What You Need to Know: After working at Michael Kors throughout the 90s (first as an assistant, then as VP of Design for the Kors Michael Kors collection), Lam struck out on his own in 2003. The designer soon became known for his clean, streamlined aesthetic, as well as his ability to cater to tastes across age ranges for women.
Age: 39
Celeb Friends/Fans: Solange Knowles, Chloë Sevigny, Alexa Chung
In The Business For: 13+ years
Also Known For: Opening Ceremony
What You Need to Know: Leon, along with his business partner and fellow UC Berkeley graduate Carol Lim, founded the retail store Opening Ceremony in 2002—which became a massive success among the fashion elite in New York City. In 2011, he and Lim were tapped as the new creative directors for the Paris-based fashion brand Kenzo, bringing on a new generation of colorful, avant-garde (but never pandering) collections for the line. And if you loved Solange Knowles' caped wedding gown, you're probably already a Kenzo fan—the structured white confection was all Leon and Lim.
Age: 65
Celeb Friends/Fans: Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara
In The Business For: 45 years
Brands Worked For: Ralph Lauren
What You Need to Know: A born-and-bred New Yorker, Vera Wang became a force in fashion after leaving Vogue, where she worked as a senior fashion editor until Anna Wintour was named editor-in-chief in1988. After holding a design director post at Ralph Lauren for two years, the designer struck out on her own. Now one of the most coveted bridal gown names in the business, Wang boasts a celebrity following that virtually puts her on every major red carpet (and more than a few famous wedding altars) each year.
Age: 50
Celeb Friends/Fans: Fergie, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista
In The Business For: 30+ years
What You Need to Know: Anna Sui became a downtown It Girl staple when her supermodel pals Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista encouraged her to put on a runway show for her then burgeoning line. Since that first presentation, Sui has put forth collections that showcase her unique, never-trend-du jour aesthetic, and garnered a significant celebrity following to boot (fans include Blake Lively, Sofia Coppola and Liv Tyler).
Celeb Friends/Fans: Zhang Jingchu, Zhou Yun, Fan Bingbing
What You Need to Know: Xu meticulously incorporates facets of Chinese culture into his designs (like an evening dress designed with details of the revered Chinese dragon robe). In 2013, he made an impressive debut at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week—offering a sleek array of designs that spoke to the richness of Chinese art and history.
Age: 42
In The Business For: 19 years
What You Need to Know: Wang made her Milan runway debut in 2013, and has since set her sights on becoming a globally-recognized brand (she has also presented her collections in Paris, London and Shanghai). Before launching her collection in 2005, she worked for various Chinese labels where she honed her design aesthetic and skill for making fine knitwear.
In The Business For: 4+ years
What You Need to Know: The Wenzhou-born designer launched her first accessories line in 2011, and it wasn't before long (we're talking two years) that her successful ready-to-wear collection followed. Before her collections' debut, Zhang was a visual merchandiser for luxury brands, which may explain her explicit attention to detail and ability to render garments that are equally simple and eye-catching.
Age: 60
Celeb Friends/Fans: Meryl Streep
In The Business For: 34+ years (or 51 years, if you count that Yeohlee began making patterns when she was 9)
What You Need to Know: Yeohlee's eponymous line has been a creative force to watch in the women's wear industry since its launch in 1981. Inspired by the female form, Teng's chic, minimalist designs have been featured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.