As the recession continues to hit American and European markets, luxury brands continue to turn to China and the new Asian economies to help them through these trying times. But it doesn't end there. Over the past few years we're increasingly seeing brands actively try to appeal to Asian sensibilities. Take Kim Jones' fall collection for Louis Vuitton menswear last month for example. The classic three-piece suit was updated and given a kimono instead of a waistcoat and the silk used for the evening suits came from a small town outside Tokyo.

Despite the growing trend, none of the Asian American designers have explored this and that's exactly what Jason Wu's fall 2012 collection yesterday was so interesting. Wu bucked the trend by exploring his Chinese heritage but in a way that felt modern and not too literal. The designer showed a selection of structured jackets that paid homage to Chinese military uniform and warrior outfits and a quilted style with a fur hem and black lace insets on the shoulders and collar was particularly strong. Coats also came in green with a military vibe nipped in at the waist with a black studded belt and a teamed with a big black fur stole. As you would expect, red appeared throughout on pieces like some authentic Qing dynasty hats as well as on figure hugging dresses with lace and brocade detail down the front.

"It just felt like I was grown up enough to tackle such a big subject," he told Style.com. "It was really interesting to see that the new China is this multicultural face."