Far and Near
A world exists where needles take the place of pens, and threads flow like ink, where garment-making becomes the unique form of writing for the people.
The traveler, never halting, stitches poetry with skillful hands, weaving infinite patterns with threads while carrying the whispers of landscapes, writing history and feelings with delicate craft at magically nimble fingertips.
The SHIATZY CHEN collection will be unveiled at Paris Fashion Week on March 10, 2025, at 15:30 Paris time. Drawing inspiration from the “Ten Types of Miao Embroidery” distinctive to Guizhou, China, the collection tells the story of “migration”, exploring the beauty of cultural fluidity and identity remaking interlaced.
Towering original patterns frame the runway, each whispering a different Miao legend; the ten distinct Miao embroidery techniques breathe life into ten uniquely embroidered handbags, featuring delicate artistry amidst the magnificence of this season. White, Floral, Black, Red, and Blue, the colors of the five Miao communities inspire the colors of this collection, further unfolding in layers of platinum, pink, black-gold, crimson-black, and cerulean. With structural changes at heart, this collection sees alternating styles of leather pleats, fluffy pleats and short pleats as well as the pleated hems of men’s pants, reinterpreting the pleated floral skirts of traditional Miao clothing. The silhouette is extended with lengthened coats, sweeping capes and cascading drapes, evoking the grandeur and wonder of migration; adorned with beads, feathers, tassels, and bells, the creations conjure the legendary image of the mythical Hundred-Bird Garment.
Shiatzy Chen
As the soul of SHIATZY CHEN, embroidery finds its most intricate expression in the AW2025 fashion show. In collaboration with seven intangible heritage artisans, the collection unfolds the ten sacred techniques of Miao embroidery. From the nationally treasured intangible heritage of Tin Embroidery and Piling Stitch to the sculptural elegance of Relief Stitch and Coiling Stitch as well as the bold intricacies of Braid Stitch, Horsetail Stitch, Split Line Stitch and Warp-width Counting Stitch, the unique and innovative techniques are exemplified while Double Needle Stitch and Grain Stitch lend clarity to the context and pattern. Each embroidery patch and every garment recite a poem of devotion, an ode to the intimate, feminine language of craft and expression.
Miao silver accessory is a talisman of status and identity, a historical memory, and a mark of protective faith. Using detachable stud brooches of Miao symbols such as the sun, butterflies, white bird feathers and dragons, accessories in this collection invite endless combinations of silver-chain necklaces and waist chains that bridge the past with the present in Miao craftsmanship. Shoes echo the wraps of Miao legwear; the firm and elegant symbol of heroism is reinterpreted through boots, boot covers, and studded accents. Ten classic SHIATZY CHEN handbag designs are selected for this collection, each an embroidered testament to the spirit of the ten Miao techniques, with memories and histories stitched in one by one. Also in the collection are the soft and voluminous Hobo bag, and the playful, multi-functional Secret-zip crossbody bag, adding everyday wear to the classic handbags for the wandering traveler.
AW2025 collection is a tapestry of migration and change, where memory is written with embroidery and craftsmanship. Each stitch is a brush against time, each piece a gaze toward the future. The endless journey of life transforms into the intertwined texture of strength and tenderness, weaving the very essence of the timeless spirit of SHIATZY CHEN.
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