Fifteen leading Chinese fashion designers join ranks with international brands to design the Mickey Mouse-inspired fashion collection "Mickey The True Original" on March 28, the opening day of Shanghai Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2018.[photo provided to China Daily]

"Mickey Mouse gives people joy and innocence. It also represents love and adventurous spirit," said Chen. "Those traits, feelings and emotions are part of ChenPeng brand, and inform our design philosophy."

The fashion show was organized to celebrate the 90th "birth" anniversary of Mickey Mouse. Disney used the occasion to nurture the local fashion design segment and to build a stronger emotional connect with Chinese millennial consumers.

Besides Chen Peng, the beneficiaries included Wang Haizhen, Li Wei, Ban Xiaoxue and Han Lulu. Each of them has developed his or her own creative fashion with Mickey images and elements.

"Mickey Mouse is a household legend, a popular fashion star and a global icon. His adorable look, playful character and optimistic attitude inspire designers from different creative fields," said Allen Au-Yeung, vice-president of creative, The Walt Disney Company, North Asia.

It is the first time that Disney has worked with Chinese creative talent for one collection, he said.

"Disney has been respecting people with passion to make sure their dreams come true. By working with the best in the fashion industry in China, we can create and spark something that no one can imagine. And through this event, we can attract more designers and communicate with them and come up with more results."