Until recently Han Huohuo was just a twenty-somethingChinese fashion blogger. Today he enjoys front-row seats at Europeancatwalk shows and rubs shoulders with the editor of Chinese Vogue. More than amillion people now follow the wildly famous fashion blogger onweibo, China's answer to Twitter, and a leading website recently listedhim among the country's top 20 movers and shakers in the industry.
The 28-year-old's flamboyant style -- he favours women'sclutches, skintight black pants and the occasional high heel -- and passion forthe industry have won him fame in a country where fashion icons arejust starting to emerge. Experts say his rapid rise to fame over the past fouryears was propelled by international brands eager to latch onto anyone whoholds sway in China -- set to become the world's largest luxurymarket by 2015, according to a Boston Consulting Group forecast.
"You've got so many luxury brands throwing moneyat China and they are grabbing people who have some sort of influence,"said Chloe Reuter, who runs a luxury communications agency in Shanghai, ReuterPR. "Because everything is very new, people are basically being catapultedinto A-list segments -- something that might take a lot longer anywhereelse." Han's unconventional style would stand out anywhere, butin China, it is particularly unusual.
His microblog -- set against a leopard-print background --features a stream of portraits of himself stalking city streets in leatherpants, designer purses, fur-lined coats and gold bracelets. Part of his head isshaved, while what hair he has is long and swept back like a mane. Not everyonelikes his look, with some scorning his feminine style as "abnormal"and "evil".
"It's just like Lady Gaga," Han said in aninterview with AFP, referring to the pop star known for extravagant outfits."A lot of people criticise her but many are also praising her because shedid what others didn't dare to do.
Han launched his blog in 2008 but since then his microblog,which he began in 2009, has become his main outlet for expression.
