thursday september 29th, paris, france, Shang Xia spring summer 2023 collection designed by yang li is a romantic statement of postmodern chinese beauty.
the intrinsic dichotomy of Shang Xia lives and breathes throughout, exemplified by simplicity and adornment, structure and flow, made and shine, colour and negative space.
Millenia of craft are distilled in unprecedented expressions of lore, evolving notions of chinese style for a new generation. framed by a tableaux of digital watercolour ‘scrolls ‘, the collection navigates new terrain – fusing classical and technical fabrications in ergonomic silhoueties.
bathed in iced aquarelle shades, the season sublimates archetypes with precious ceremony, tricking the eye but never the hand. ultralight jersey is manipulated in exquisite layered drapery or coated as waterproof tailoring , exemplified as the Shang Xia 4-pocket mandarin jacket and slim lapeled coats.
Drawing talismanic inspirations from the natural world , shifts and aprons in calfskin or silk are inlaid with intarsia pebble motifs in nappa or raffia, as the Han Dynasty practice of paper-cutting is mimicked in laser-cut petal motifs and the 2023 lunar rabbit illustrated by Chen Fen Wan.
Anchoring the collection of Shang Xia Spring Summer 2023 in a game of symmetry and asymmetry, contrast spine details evoke Ming Dynasty chairs, and double-face colour-blocked dresses loop like mobius strips in languid volumes. bonded nappa and padded satin alter the state of flight jackets and masculine shirting , while wool crepe 5-pocket skate jeans and column skirts are imbued with a fluid opulence.
Planing ancient crafts with a sharp modernity, lacquer work and weaving techniques are reflected in glazed lace and sichuan bamboo raffia, coated or fringed. traditional manchu platforms are subverted with Shang Xia bubble heels, rong hua velvet brooches bloom as pastel chrysanthemums , and cone stud punk bracelets are shaped in soft marble and jade.
All images courtesy of Shang Xia
PR Agency Lucien Pages Communication