Feng Chen Wang returned to French soil yesterday to present her latest deconstructed creations on the runway, inspired by the union of notions of community and life’s beautiful moments. This season, the China-born, London-based designer has taken notes from traditional Chinese practices and reflected some of her signature designs into her style.
For Spring/Summer 2023, Wang unveiled a collection inspired by restless energy, channeled through chaotic notes fueled by the conflicting personalities of everyday life. The designer’s Fall/Winter 2023 collection seeks to fuse traditional and contemporary looks through a genderless lens, jumping between different periods. King’s recognizable design techniques are combined with updated borders in black, white, grey, indigo and khaki tones accented with vibrant pink and orange accents.
Evoking the original Chinese custom of “hundred family robes”, Wang collects donated fabrics from family, friends and neighbors and transforms them into patchwork robes with heartwarming motifs. Her trademark phoenix illustrations are subtly previewed by Chinese landscape painting techniques that adorn denim ensembles. At the same time, faux girlfriend fur makes a statement on coats, bags and hats that flow swiftly against the wind.
Puff outerwear collides with glossy vinyl streetwear taken from last season’s discarded fabrics, next to structural suiting and accessories tied with Chinese knots that serve as the ancestors of today’s button-fastening mechanisms. As the show notes, “Wang vividly remembers her grandmother waking up every day to tie the knots on her blouse. These knots fasten two different pieces of clothing together.” Beyond its function, it has the meaning of joining two separate entities: uniting generations, cultures and communities.” Loops come in jumbo sizes and are glued to coats, blazers and scarves and are undeniable. It has cultural significance.
See the collection in the gallery above and stay tuned for content from this week’s Paris Fashion Week FW23.
Elsewhere in fashion, Bianca Saunders’ FW23 runway show was performance art.
