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Margaret Zhang’s Vogue China Legacy

Lottie Murray
Margaret Zhang at the Grace of Monaco Premiere in Sydney, 2014.

Lottie Murray

After three years as the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue China, Margaret Zhang, the youngest editor for Vogue House, has announced that she will be leaving the publication.

Margaret Zhang was appointed as editorial director during the turbulent year of 2021. Previously, Zhang founded the fashion blog Shine by Three and, from there, her experience unintentionally propelled her into her current role.

In 2014, Zhang was featured on Australian reality TV show Fashion Bloggers, which explored the professional and personal lives of influencers and fashion bloggers — this was the first time Zhang’s work was recognised on a larger scale.

2015 was a notable year for Zhang as she began to grow her digital presence. She became one of Clinique’s global faces for the #FaceForward campaign and won Elle’s Digital Influencer of the Year award. During her 20s, she dabbled in various corners of the fashion and beauty industry before beginning her position as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue China at the age of 27.

Margaret Zhang at Vogue China

Having what many have deemed as a rather unconventional entry into the editorial realm of such a prestigious outlet, Zhang has undoubtedly left her mark on the entire publication.

As the successor of Angelica Cheung, the founding editor of Vogue China, Zhang has adopted an experimental approach to capturing fashion by combining both traditional Chinese heritage and the country’s rich consumer culture. 

Zhang’s appointment was initially deemed controversial by many and she has received backlash regarding her age and her ‘superficial’ understanding of Chinese culture. 

As a result, many media representatives chose to overlook Zhang’s impressive entrepreneurial skillset. Once she decided to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief, she was determined to reimagine the world of Vogue China — she certainly did not let the media’s perception of her get in the way of her vision for the magazine’s global reputation. 

Zhang’s Vogue China Legacy

One of Zhang’s most notable achievements was integrating her filmmaking background into her work at Vogue China.

During her time as Editor-in-Chief, she led and supported the production of 17 short films by aspiring Chinese female filmmakers, fostering their entry into the competitive film industry. The project created films predominantly in Mandarin and a handful of bilingual approaches. Vogue film was an important step towards further developing the film industry in China and assisting talented women in navigating an often difficult and misogynistic field.

From her first issue released in September 2021, titled ‘New Beginnings’, Zhang’s dedication to utilising the female creatives around her was immediately evident. The magazine’s readership was greeted by Zhang’s highly saturated cover displaying a vibrant array of flowing garments in the foreground of an exquisite sunrise landscape shot that captures rural China’s natural beauty.

From her very first issue, Zhang imprinted Vogue China‘s brand image with her own distinct touch as she crafted pages that were both avant-garde and showcased the elegance inherent in high-quality garments.

Zhang’s commitment to themes such as ‘The Female Gaze’, ‘Celestial Heights’ and ‘In Our Hands’ demonstrates the positive impact she has left on the reception of the creative industry in China. ‘In Our Hands’, the first issue of 2022, encouraged sustainability and reflected upon the necessity for humanity to understand our social responsibility to protect the environment. Here, Zhang used her creative spark to speak up about political matters in a truly engaging way.

Why Has Zhang Stepped Down From Vogue China?

Following an extremely successful three-year term at Vogue China, Zhang announced her resignation via Instagram on 26th February.

Recognising the fantastic achievements of the magazine under her creative direction, Zhang wrote: “We have celebrated record growth in Vogue video, award-winning audio-programming and the highest engagement events in the history of Vogue China.” 

She continued, “never before have we seen so much Chinese creativity showcased across the global network of Vogue editions.”

Following her resignation, Zhang has since been signed by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to pursue her production, filmmaking and writing ventures. Her last issue for Vogue China will be the June 2024 issue.

Margaret Zhang beautifully embodies the innovation, creativity and fearlessness that the fashion industry celebrates. Despite the hesitance surrounding her editorial leadership, her Vogue China legacy will undoubtedly live on for generations to come.

Zhang’s remarkable collection of issues stands as a testament to her courage in leveraging her voice to champion change, proving once and for all that the influence of fashion should never be underestimated.

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Featured image courtesy of Eva Rinaldi on Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

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