Ziggy Chen AW20

I arrived in Paris at 7 in the morning of the Ziggy Chen presentation. After a somewhat chaotic morning courtesy of the Parisian railway system strike I was finally allowed to rest for a moment before having to walk across town to the presentation. Fighting jet-lag I entered into an intimate ambiance in which the coordinators were surprisingly welcoming. I was encouraged to roam, approach the models, touch the clothing and direct the models in mini photo shoots. This easy going pace was not what I expected and it was much appreciated. It felt as if the designer started a story and I was asked to finish it in any way I found fit.

I was already feeling very welcome when someone broke out the sake. By this time I had already been in several conversations with some models as well as the PR company for this event. This was a party and I had not had this much fun at a presentation in several seasons. With a shot in hand I was taking shots of the collection in between sips. This sort of interaction truly spoke to the feel of the urban atmosphere of the collection.

With stockists worldwide in NYC, Paris, the UK, Italy, Japan, Korea and of course China; Ziggy Chen is bringing an unexpectedly detailed look to modern urbanization. “Blending” encompasses aspects of rawness, durability with texture and a worn-in softness. Details such as the mixing of textiles and external detached pockets added to the appearance of historical influences. The fabrics chosen for this collection echoes the time-worn patina of Shanghai’s architecture. Layers of jackets, vests and shirts were reminiscent of buildings stacked upon one another. The complexity of these garments can easily be admired on its own, but definitively richer when pieced together. This collection felt rich with storytelling of the past and adept for the future.