Fashion beyond boundaries: Designer Charlotte Shao stays true to her creative soul amid international acclaim
Three years at Interlochen Arts Academy helped shape Shao into the innovative collaborator she is today—with designs worn by Cyndi Lauper and seen everywhere from Chinese Vogue to New York Fashion Week.
A design from SISIO's 2024 collection Eternal Return
Take a seat at a fashion show featuring Charlotte Shao’s SISIO, and you’re immediately swept into a fantasy world. Models flaunt gracefully draped fabrics in an array of soft colors, embellished with Japanese characters and slender crystals. Shapes draw inspiration from natural elements like glaciers and bamboo stems. Each silhouette surprises, entertains, and enlightens. Though Shao’s work commands international attention (she’s been featured in Chinese Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar and made an appearance at New York Fashion Week’s SS24 Designer Showcase), she doesn’t see SISIO as a commercial endeavor—rather, her work is the natural outpouring of a creative soul. Honed by three years at Interlochen Arts Academy, this young star’s talent sparkles on the global stage.
Interlochen showed me that art has no boundaries. I was surrounded by so much innovation.
A model showcases one of Shao's designs during Tokyo Fashion Week FW2024.
From childhood interests to independent design work
Born in Hangzhou, China, Shao grew up around her father’s silk tie business and was quickly drawn to working with textiles. Texture, weight, and movement became part of her vernacular from a young age. She also developed a deep desire to care for the natural world—a passion that continues in her work to this day.
“My father's silk work started from the cocoon, always following sustainable and environmentally conscious practices that shaped not only my tactile memory, but also my values,” she says. “For me, sustainability is inseparable from creativity, and every piece I make carries that principle.”
Noticing Shao’s blooming talents, her parents encouraged her to attend Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studied visual arts. She immersed herself in Interlochen’s creative community, finding inspiration through connecting with young artists from a variety of disciplines.
“ My education in Interlochen was a very important journey in my life,” she says. “Interlochen showed me that art has no boundaries. I was surrounded by so much innovation: dancers, writers, actors, and more. They were all very talented and hardworking, and their work was so unique. We learned a lot from each other.”
Shao graduated in 2017. Just one year later, she founded her own fashion brand. It was time for her visions to be seen by the entire world.
Shao pauses on the runway to hug her beloved service dog, Odin.
Finding healing through fashion
Shao named her brand SISIO, inspired by the word “sister” and incorporating two letter I’s to represent positive and negative ones—an idea Shao relates to the ancient Chinese concept of the yin and yang.
“ SISIO reflects the idea of family and a search for balance,” she reflects. “For me, fashion isn't only about aesthetics; it is about identity and meaning. The name itself is a reminder that my work should always stay honest and connect with my values and my purpose of creating my own brand.”
Her collections are frequently inspired by spiritual ideas Shao finds significant. Pieces for the 2023 Paris Fashion Week were inspired by the Heart Sūtra, a popular collection of aphorisms associated with Mahāyāna Buddhism. In the following year, she debuted Eternal Return—an ode to the powerful but unseen world that continues to shape her designs.
Shao calls fashion design her “healing process,” saying that she uses it to process deeply-held emotions and make them into something beautiful.
“ I've struggled with bipolar disorder since five years ago, and I found my path to recovery through fashion design,” she says. “Each design piece carries a part of me. When an audience resonates with it, I realize my vulnerability and my personal story can give them strength. And I turn fragility into power.”
“It’s not all about commercial success—it's for recording my own journey,” she adds.
Each design piece carries a part of me. When an audience resonates with it, I realize my vulnerability and my personal story can give them strength. And I turn fragility into power.
A look from SISIO FW2024 Glacial Requiem
Building a global brand
While Shao’s focus has never been fame or fortune, it didn’t take long for her company to garner international attention. From appearances in major magazines to a runway collection at the 2024 Tokyo Fashion Week, SISIO is firmly situated in the public eye. Shao, who chooses to work with independent individuals instead of creating a business hierarchy, says her workload reflects this reality.
“ It’s a challenge of time management and my personal energy, because balancing creative flow with logistics, budgets, and communication requires major teamwork. I had to learn how to communicate with people in different roles on my fashion team: my hairstylist, makeup artist, producer, music team, and more. The reward is seeing a vision come to life, and knowing that every step from sketch to runway was carried out by my own hands. I'm very proud of myself. Even though the process is exhausting, it's always worth it.”
Shao first began connecting with artists from different disciplines during her time at Interlochen. Since then, she’s been able to collaborate with several fellow alumni.
Shao (center) poses with models wearing her designs.
“When I’m holding a fashion show, it's not only about fashion designs—it also involves lighting, installation art, and music. I love that I had the opportunity to build my own network starting from when I was a high school student. And it's great that I can offer other young artists from the same high school the opportunity to create something cool together in the future.”
Right now, Shao is focused on the market in Asia, where her work has achieved the most recognition. She’s thrilled to see SISIO getting attention around the world.
“ It’s very meaningful to me because SISIO designs are not just fashion—they're piece of my personal history and cultural memory. Seeing them on global platforms tells me that authenticity can resonate universally and that my story can be part of a larger dialogue.”
The environment at Interlochen gave me the confidence to experiment and to see fashion not only as clothing, but as part of a larger conversation amongst the arts.
Cyndi Lauper wears SISIO 2024 FW Collection Look 9 on the main stage at Glastonbury.
Dressing the stars and dreams for growth
Despite the considerable success SISIO has already achieved, Shao knows there’s more in store.
“ What excites me the most is seeing more and more celebrities feature my designs,” she gushes. “I've been connecting with Cyndi Lauper, who really liked my designs and has already worn them three times. It feels unbelievable when someone who I know only from my headphones connects with me in real life!”
Shao received an invite to Lauper’s concert in Tokyo and was able to meet the singer backstage. The experience made her eager for further work with musicians, and she’s currently exploring a potential collaboration with Icelandic singer Björk.
“I’m always excited to discover new material, start a new collaboration, or find a new audience,” she says. “The environment at Interlochen gave me the confidence to experiment and to see fashion not only as clothing, but as part of a larger conversation amongst the arts.”
Students at Interlochen Arts Academy enjoy world-renowned training from gifted professionals alongside college-preparatory academics. Learn more about Interlochen Arts Academy.
