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"Even for my ready-to-wear lines, I produce no more than three pieces for each design," says the designer wearing a Vivienne Westwood sweater for this interview. "In that way my customers won't have to worry about their outfits competing with someone else's." Like many homegrown designers, Zhai blends Western silhouettes and traditional Chinese aesthetics and details in his clothes. "I have always had a deep interest in Peking Opera so many of my inspirations come from the opera costumes," says Zhai, who also started to learn traditional Chinese ink-wash painting at an early age. He loves the vivid hues so often used in those theater costumes. In the latest collection, he uses a lot of bright colors such as rose red, emerald and lemon yellow even for winter. He is also a worldwide traveler, visiting Europe and Japan regularly to learn about the latest trends and introduce his designs to overseas buyers. As a result, Zhai's designs can now be found in boutiques in Tokyo and Paris. His focus is still on the tailored outfits, including cocktail dresses, formal evening gowns and wedding dresses. His six-story studio on Xietu Road in Xuhui District is packed with glamorous outfits that would exhilarate any woman. Customers are asked to choose their favorite, then Zhai and his team follow up with adaptations according to the customers' ideas and needs. A tailored evening gown costs as much as 6,000 yuan (US$820), while a ready-to-wear cocktail dress is about 3,000 yuan. The attractive, stylish designer is also a much-sought-after city hair stylist, whose clients include a long list of celebrities and stars, such as actresses Maggie Cheung and Zhao Wei and Taiwanese girls' band S.H.E. "When I was 19, my dream was to set up my own label and company," Zhai says. "This dream has already come true. My next goal is to build a franchised salon around the country that boasts fashion design, hair dressing, beauty and spa services under one roof."