Fusion fashion: China’s striking chocolate couture

Although China-born fashion designers are yet to lead the global runway, they've certainly got the guts to seek everyone's attention.

A dramatic chocolate fashion show was held yesterday in Shanghai to open World Chocolate Wonderland, China’s largest chocolate theme park.

The catwalk show featured 10 outfits designed by five Chinese designers: Taiwan-native Kang Yen-Ling (康延龄), Hsu Feng-Yu (许凤玉), Lin Guodong (林国栋), Shanghai-based Helen Lee (李鸿雁) and Beijing-born Tan Siyuan (谭思源).

The five designers worked with the wonderland organizer for nearly three months on these costumes. Most have fabric bases, but are heavily accessorized with chocolate sculptures.

All of the clothes were designed for the event and will be displayed throughout the chocolate theme park.

The self-proclaimed "world’s first chocolate theme park" is showcasing more than 200 chocolate art pieces in Shanghai's Himalaya Art Museum from December 16 to February 19, 2012.

The highlight includes a five-ton chocolate dragon, Bumblebee from “Transformers,” a chocolate Huangpu River, Terracotta Warriors and LV handbags.

Click to see more images of the chocolate sculptures at the World Chocolate Wonderland.

World Chocolate Wonderland, December 16, 2011-February 19, 2012, Himalayas Center, No. 1- 4, Lane 1,188 Fangdian Lu, near Meihua Lu 芳甸路188号1弄1-4号, 近梅花路, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., RMB 100, +86 21 6106 9133,www.chocolatewonderland.com.cn