NEW YORK, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The China Institute and the Yue-Sai Kan China Beauty Charity Fund jointly presented the third annual China Fashion Gala at The Plaza Hotel in New York City on Friday night.

This year's gala honored iconic designer Christian Louboutin; Alessandro Bastagli and Massimiliano Giornetti, executive chairman and creative director of Shanghai Tang, respectively; Tiffany & Co., the world's premier jeweler and America's house of design; and Maggie Q, one of the first Asian actresses to lead an American television network series.

The highlight of the evening show was a full-length couture fashion show by designer Grace Chen. Chen graduated in 1996 from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she was the first alumnus for the Chinese mainland.

Chen said she hopes her designs will help establish the iconic image of modern Chinese women worldwide.

"China's power of culture is in the rise and everyone in the world is putting eyes on China and want to learn from China, so for us it's a good timing," said Grace Chen.

The China Fashion Gala is a platform to promote and support emerging Chinese talent on the international stage and recognize individuals whose outstanding contributions have helped position Chinese design and aesthetics at the forefront of fashion on a global scale.