Xu Yuejuan, a Chinese designer based in Italy and founder of the fashion brand DELVES-JK [Photo/delvesjk.com]

Xu Yuejuan, once a tailor in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, in her youth, has grown into a famous Chinese designer in Italy after decades of struggle and persistence.

Xu was born in Qingtian county in Lishui and grew up in Wenzhou, where she developed a strong interest in designing and making clothes. "When I was studying Yueju Opera, the softness and ethereality of the long sleeves of the costumes really enchanted me," she recalled.

To get closer to her dream of becoming a fashion designer, Xu used her spare time to get work experience at garment factories. The noises made by the machines were sounds of happiness to her, reminding the young woman that she was stepping nearer to her goal.

After she moved to Milan, Italy, Xu was soon employed by a local company due to the knowledge of design she had accumulated. Later, the company's president helped her build her own fashion business.

Xu founded the Italian brand DELVES-JK and became the first Chinese national to be admitted into the Milan Fashion Club. Her creations are considered to have the elegance of both the East and the West.

Xu said her original aspiration was to infuse Chinese elements into clothes to enable the Chinese to better understand the Italian fashion and help Italians learn more about Chinese culture.

"Fashion is a language. I hope to build a bridge between China and Italy through fashion design," Xu said.