It is with immense pride that we follow the extraordinary journey of our alumnus Simon Dongxing Li (Class of 2010), known professionally as Ximon Lee. Since graduating from AIS and heading to New York City to study at the world-renowned Parsons School of Design, Ximon has not only entered the fashion industry—he has redefined it.
Born to Korean parents in northeastern China and raised across four distinct cities, Ximon developed a deep interest in visual communication during his high school years at AIS. It was specifically his participation in several art and design classes and clubs that sparked his initial interest in graphic design—a foundation that eventually led him to the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York.
While he initially headed to New York to pursue graphic design, Ximon discovered a transformative passion for garment construction during a summer intensive. This pivot led him to enroll in the BFA Fashion Design program. During his studies, he honed his craft at the highest level, interning for iconic labels including Calvin Klein, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Prabal Gurung.
Ximon’s ascent was meteoric. Upon graduating, his senior collection earned him the title of Best Menswear Designer of the Year at Parsons in 2014. In 2015, he made history as the first-ever menswear designer to win the prestigious H&M Design Award. Lee was one of eight selected graduate fashion designers from all over the world to present their collection to a jury of high profile fashion figures. Lee was awarded with €50,000 and the opportunity to develop pieces of his collection to be a part of H&M’s fall line.
We picked him as a winner because it was quite an innovative collection. It felt really new and there are so many layers and secretive messages, there’s so much to explore in each garment so it’s very intriguing. He’s going to do very well.
His work is celebrated for its architectural quality and its ability to blend his complex heritage with avant-garde structure. This innovative approach earned him a spot as a semi-finalist for the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, an honor reserved for the world’s most entrepreneurial and innovative young talents.
I think he is an incredible and accomplished designer. He had everything; his research was beautiful, the fabric development was accomplished and his design was good.
His work is celebrated for its “architectural” quality—a nod to his early days experimenting with structure and form in the AIS art room. By blending heavy materials with delicate silhouettes and drawing on his complex Korean-Chinese heritage, Ximon created a signature style often described as “street-wear couture.”
From the visionary student who organized the 2008 Language Dream exhibition at AIS to a designer showcased in the world’s fashion capitals, Ximon Lee embodies the spirit of an AIS Global Citizen. He is a testament to the fact that the creative, confident spark ignited at the American International School can truly change the world.
We look forward to seeing Ximon continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. We are honored to have played a part in his story and continue to follow his remarkable journey with immense pride.
