Peter Som is a San Francisco-born fashion designer who developed an interest in fashion from an early age. As a child, he avidly sketched women and their clothes, beginning with his first subject, his mother. He credits his parents, who were both architects, with inspiring his sense of design. He later came to New York to study fashion at Parsons School of Design and started his own clothing line, fulfilling a childhood dream. In describing how his identity is reflected in his design, he opines that it manifests in traits he applies to his work such as his strong work ethic rather than overt aesthetic influences such as Chinese motifs. He chose the particular piece to showcase as part of the exhibit because the mix of print, which evoked a technological forward-thinking movement of going forward, to him represented the future of China. He thinks that public interest in fashion is growing due to the increasing accessibility of fashion content made possible by the internet, as well as the availability of fashion at all price points. He finds it exciting that the exhibition gathers together such a talented group of Chinese designers, probably for the first time. He considers it an honor to be in such wonderful, supportive company because he thinks that they share a common experience that is powerful and there is strength in numbers.