An immersive presentation showcasing the sustainable brand’s textile upcycling and recycling expertise, while celebrating Taiwanese creativity, circular fashion, craftsmanship, and the transformative power of human connection
Story Wear made its New York Fashion Week debut with “LOVE REVOLUTION: A Story of Taiwan,” an immersive fashion presentation introducing international audiences to the brand’s unique vision of circular design through the lens of Taiwanese culture, creativity, craftsmanship, and community. Following acclaimed presentations at Taipei Fashion
Following acclaimed presentations at Taipei Fashion Week and Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO, Story Wear brought its signature approach to sustainable fashion to New York for the first time, transforming
Ideal Glass Studios into a multi-sensory exhibition wherefashion, art, music, and storytelling converged.
Story Wear
Photos: George Elder
Founded in 2018, Story Wear has become one of Taiwan’s leading sustainable fashion brands, redefining luxury through innovative upcycling techniques and artisan craftsmanship. By partnering with local social welfare organisations and community groups, Story Wear creates meaningful employment opportunities while extending the life of existing materials. Every garment begins with existing materials — discarded denim, surplus textiles, deadstock fabrics, and reclaimed garments, which are reimagined by professional local artisans and makers from organisations supporting people with disabilities and women’s associations. The result is a collection of contemporary designs that celebrate creativity, longevity, and responsible production.
For Spring/Summer 2027, Story Wear presented approximately 30 looks and more than 70 handcrafted garments, accessories, and wearable artworks, inviting guests to experience a slower, more intentional vision of fashion. Designed as an immersive journey rather than a traditional runway show, LOVE REVOLUTION celebrated the belief that fashion has the power to preserve culture, foster human connection, and inspire positive change.
This season also marks a new chapter for Story Wear, with the introduction of recycled cotton textiles developed through Taiwanese innovation and advanced textile technology. While upcycling remains at the heart of the brand, Story Wear believes the global challenge of textile waste requires solutions at multiple scales. By combining craftsmanship with circular material innovation, the brand is working towards a future where waste is not discarded, but continuously transformed into new value.
Story Wear today unveiled REDEEM™, a pioneering textile-to-textile denim recycling platform that transforms post-consumer denim waste into premium fashion-grade fabrics through one of Taiwan’s first vertically integrated circular supply chains. By combining material traceability, AI-powered fibre identification, advanced garment disassembly, low-damage mechanical fibre recovery, recycled yarn engineering, fabric development, design, and local manufacturing, REDEEM™ creates a closed-loop system that returns discarded denim to the apparel sector rather than downcycling it into lower-value applications.
The platform’s first commercial fabric, REDEEM™ Circular Jacquard Denim, incorporates recovered post-consumer denim fibres without relying on polyester or nylon additives, demonstrating a scalable pathway toward circular fibre production while reducing dependence on virgin cotton. In its 2026 pilot programme, Story Wear has already recovered more than 1,000 denim jeans and successfully converted them into recycled fibre, yarn, and new denim fabric, validating the technical and commercial feasibility of circular fashion manufacturing at scale.
Throughout the presentation, Story Wear demonstrated how discarded materials can be elevated into contemporary luxury. Reclaimed mattress textiles, bed linens, aircraft seatbelts, automotive leather offcuts, and upcycled American ale malt grain bags were transformed into refined garments and accessories that challenge conventional notions of value and waste.
Extending its vision beyond circular design, Story Wear has also partnered with women’s artisan communities in Nepal and the Philippines, integrating handcrafted footwear and accessories into the collection. Together, these collaborations highlight fashion’s potential not only to reduce environmental impact, but also to create meaningful social opportunity across borders.
At its heart, Story Wear is telling a story about Taiwan: a story shaped by care for nature, craftsmanship, community, and human connection. Story Wear believes fashion is one of culture’s most powerful storytellers; the clothes we choose to wear reflect not only who we are, but the values we stand for and the future we wish to create.
THE EXHIBITION & COLLECTION
The presentation unfolded through five immersive environments, each revealing a different chapter of LOVE REVOLUTION, while celebrating Story Wear’s collaborative approach to sustainable design, sustainability, and cultural storytelling.
- Love Revolution: Story of Taiwan (Story Wear Spring/Summer 2027 core collection)
Inspired by Taiwan’s resilience in an increasingly uncertain world, this collection explores the transformative power of love over conflict. Five women re-entering the workforce dismantled over 40 pairs of discarded jeans, while more than 1,200 donated jeans from across Taiwan were woven into REDEEMTM, a 100% Taiwan-made Jacquard denim developed through Story Wear’s signature upcycling craftsmanship. The collection reimagines military and workwear silhouettes, honouring the builders, makers, and everyday workers who sustain society. Historic flight jackets and combat-inspired garments are transformed with symbols of love, challenging conventional narratives of war and power. Taiwan has not always been treated fairly on the global stage. Yet its people continue to choose kindness, resilience, and hope. They believe clothing is an expression of culture, and that Taiwan’s spirit of compassion and perseverance may be exactly what the world needs today. - Love from Mother Nature (featuring Indigenous Taiwanese textiles)
A celebration of Taiwan’s diverse landscapes and Indigenous heritage through one of humanity’s oldest textile traditions. The handwoven fabrics featured throughout the collection are created by Seediq Indigenous artisans in Taiwan, preserving generations of cultural knowledge and craftsmanship. Using natural materials including organic cotton and ramie, these textiles are transformed into wearable artworks inspired by the island’s dramatic mountains, forests, rivers, and coastlines. Each piece reflects a deep connection between people, land, and tradition, honouring both ancestral weaving practices and contemporary design. - The Butterfly Effect of Love (in partnership with the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation)
A celebration of compassion, showcasing handcrafted bags and accessories created in collaboration with artisan communities in Nepal and the Philippines. Bringing together traditional techniques and contemporary design, the collection highlights the creativity, skill, and cultural heritage of makers whose work deserves greater global recognition. Rooted in Story Wear’s founding mission as a social enterprise, the collection extends the brand’s long-standing commitment to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities, demonstrating how fashion can be a vehicle for empowerment, dignity, and positive social impact. - The Denim Forest (developed in partnership with Cone Denim)
This collection showcases Story Wear’s signature approach to circular denim design, demonstrating how heritage materials and innovative craftsmanship can transform surplus denim into contemporary fashion. Central to the collection is a collaboration involving surplus inventory fabric from the legendary Cone Denim mill, whose history has shaped American denim culture for more than a century. Rather than allowing these premium deadstock textiles to go unused, Story Wear reimagines them through its distinctive patchwork and reconstruction techniques, giving new life to materials that carry both cultural and industrial heritage. - Sleep for Love and Peace (created in collaboration with Sleepy Tofu)
A serene installation celebrating the beauty of renewal through fashion exploring rest, wellbeing, and sustainability, transforming unconventional surplus materials such as mattress fabrics, bed linens, and reclaimed textiles into garments that blur the boundaries between rest, sustainability, and self-expression. Drawing inspiration from historic calls for peace and human connection, the presentation creates a space where visitors are invited to pause, breathe, and imagine a gentler future into fashion and lifestyle objects while encouraging visitors to slow down and reconnect.
Throughout the exhibition, Story Wear’s collaborative spirit was woven into every aspect of the experience through partnerships spanning fashion, art, technology, sustainability, and social impact. Featured collaborators included Cone Denim, Sleepy Tofu, Epson, Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, CHACER, Ministry of Culture of Taiwan (Republic of China), Resource Circulation Administration, Ministry of Environment of Taiwan (Republic of China), ECI, TPTEA, string quartet from the New Asia Chamber Music Society, and additional creative partners whose shared commitment to craftsmanship and innovation helped bring LOVE REVOLUTION to life.
“Fashion has the power to tell stories that transcend borders,” says Kuan Chen, Founder & Creative Director of Story Wear. “Through LOVE REVOLUTION, we wanted to share the Taiwan that inspires us every day — a Taiwan defined by creativity, resilience, kindness, and craftsmanship. Every garment represents the belief that small acts of love can create meaningful change, and that the future of fashion begins now, with how we value the people, environment, and communities around us.“
More than a fashion presentation, LOVE REVOLUTION: A Story of Taiwan represents Story Wear’s vision for the future of fashion—one in which sustainability is not a niche category or an alternative to mainstream design, but the standard for what comes next. By bringing together circular design, innovation, craftsmanship, and contemporary creativity, Story Wear demonstrates that fashion can be desirable, expressive, and commercially relevant while creating a more responsible future. The brand’s ambition is clear: to make sustainability not simply a choice within fashion, but the future of mainstream fashion itself.
ABOUT STORY WEAR
Founded in Taiwan in 2018, Story Wear is an award-winning sustainable fashion brand and social enterprise that transforms discarded textiles into contemporary fashion. Working with local artisans, second-career women, disability advocacy groups, and community partners, the brand combines circular design with social inclusion to create garments that are both environmentally and socially impactful. Story Wear has presented collections at Taipei Fashion Week, Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO, and New York Fashion Week, sharing Taiwan’s vision of sustainability, craftsmanship, and compassion with the world.
For more information on Story Wear, please visit www.Story-Wear.world or follow @StoryWear.Fashion.
STORY WEAR PARTNERS
ABOUT BUDDHIST TZU CHI CHARITY FOUNDATION
Tzu Chi partners with Story Wear to present The House of Love — a collection born of resilience, each piece shaped by the hands of women in Lumbini, Nepal and Palo, Philippines. In Lumbini, Tzu Chi’s vocational sewing program helped women overcome generations of inequality, earning national certification and the means to support their families. In Palo, skills training gave women a craft and a path forward after Typhoon Haiyan devastated their communities. By empowering these women with skills, dignity, and opportunity, The House of Love is compassion put into action.
ABOUT CHACER
CHACER is a Taiwan-based lifestyle brand developed by Chia Her Industrial, carrying forward the company’s five decades of textile expertise into functional, thoughtfully designed everyday products. Backed by Chia Her’s long-standing capabilities in functional wool textiles, textile manufacturing, and sustainable material development, CHACER represents the group’s expansion from advanced textile innovation into lifestyle aesthetics and consumer-facing design.
Guided by a belief that comfort, quality, and sustainability should be part of everyday life, CHACER integrates functional materials, refined craftsmanship, and understated design to create products that are practical, durable, and aesthetically considered. Its Woolhoo collection is made with Merino wool yarn certified to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), emphasizing traceable raw materials, responsible animal welfare practices, and all-season comfort. The material offers natural temperature regulation, moisture absorption and wicking, breathability, and reduced stuffiness, making it suitable for daily wear across seasons.
For this collaboration with Story Wear, Chia Her Industrial contributed sustainable functional fabrics, while CHACER’s Woolhoo Merino wool socks were incorporated into selected styling looks for New York and Taipei Fashion Weeks. Together, the partnership highlights Taiwan’s textile value chain from material development and responsible manufacturing to finished lifestyle products, presenting a new expression of functional fashion that combines sustainability, craftsmanship, and everyday aesthetics.
ABOUT CONE DENIM
Cone Denim is the undisputed global benchmark for authentic, high-quality denim manufacturing. Founded in 1891 by the Cone brothers, this legendary American textile icon has spent over 135 years shaping the very fabric of popular culture and fashion history. From powering the golden age of workwear to supplying the world’s most recognized lifestyle brands, Cone Denim is synonymous with authenticity, character, and craftsmanship.
What sets this fabric apart is an unwavering commitment to both heritage and revolutionary textile technology. While widely celebrated for its historic White Oak selvedge denim—woven on vintage shuttle looms that created an unmatched, beautifully irregular texture—the company continues to pioneer the future of apparel. Today, modern manufacturing facilities in Mexico and China blend century-old expertise with state-of-the-art, vertically integrated production.
Innovation and sustainability are woven directly into every yard of fabric. Leading the industry toward a smaller environmental footprint, Cone introduces groundbreaking eco-friendly initiatives, including advanced water-saving recycling technologies like ZLD.
Choosing this textile means embracing a rich legacy without sacrificing tomorrow’s standards. It is more than just clothing material; it is a premium denim engineered for designers, creators, and denim purists who demand authenticity, durability, and forward-thinking sustainability.
ABOUT ECI
Our Elastic Excellence
At ECI, we weave innovation and quality into every strand of our elastic products. Our legacy is defined by precision, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As industry trendsetters, we are committed to delivering professional craftsmanship and embracing progressive technology. From our headquarters in Taiwan to our expansive global manufacturing network, ECI stands as a beacon of excellence in the elastic product industry.
Your End-to-End Manufacturing Partner
ECI operates as a vertically integrated elastic manufacturer and wholesale supplier, serving global brands through complete production control—from raw material sourcing to finished goods. Our multi-site manufacturing network in Taiwan, China, and Vietnam ensures supply stability, competitive wholesale pricing, and short lead times
As a direct manufacturer, we maintain lean operations and efficient processes while providing flexible MOQs and responsive sourcing support. Whether you need standard wholesale elastic products or customdeveloped solutions, ECI delivers the manufacturing expertise and supply chain reliability that brands depend on.
Commitment to Sustainability: Our Eco-Conscious Journey
Sustainability drives every aspect of our manufacturing operations. As a responsible supplier, we reduce environmental impact through recycled materials, energy-efficient practices, and waste reduction programs. Our third-party certifications validate our commitment to environmental standards.
Partnering with ECI as your narrow fabrics supplier means strengthening your supply chain’s sustainability redentials. We help brands meet their environmental goals through transparent sourcing, certified materials, and traceable production data—essential for responsible wholesale procurement.
ABOUT EPSON
Epson is a company dedicated to technological innovation and precision engineering. Guided by its philosophy of “efficient, compact, and precise”, Epson creates new value that enriches both people and the planet. Leveraging its technological and engineering expertise, the company delivers innovative solutions across precision technologies, industrial applications and robotics, office and home printing, visual display products, and lifestyle enhancement solutions.
Epson began operating in the Taiwan market in 1982 and officially established its overseas sales subsidiary, Epson Taiwan Technology & Trading Ltd., in 1995. Its parent company, Seiko Epson Corporation (SEIKO EPSON CORP.), is headquartered in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, and the Epson Group generates annual revenue of over JPY 1.4 trillion.
ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE OF TAIWAN (REPUBLIC OF CHINA)
Culture is a concrete manifestation of human life, the cornerstone of progress in civil thought, and the root from which nations bloom and grow. As such, the Ministry holds as its core philosophy the idea that through strengthening Taiwanese content, we can build cultural self-confidence. This is realized in the five main elements of the content industries, organizations and legislation, equality and diversity, cultural assets and venues, and international exchange. Through these, we strive to help Taiwanese culture shine ever brighter.
ABOUT NEW ASIA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
Founded in 2010, the New Asia Chamber Music Society (NACMS) is dedicated to creating opportunities for Asian and Asian-American musicians while making chamber music more accessible, engaging, and meaningful to diverse communities.
NACMS has presented performances at major New York venues including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ellis Island, and Queens Museum, while also bringing music into more intimate and community-centered settings.
Beyond its concert season, NACMS is committed to education and developing the next generation of musicians through programs such as the Young Artist Chamber Music Program, New Asia International Music Competition, Between the Bars workshops, and House Salon Concerts. These initiatives connect young musicians and audiences directly with professional artists through mentorship, performance, and interactive musical experiences.
Through performance, education, and community engagement, NACMS continues its mission of building connections across generations and cultures through chamber music.
ABOUT THE RESOURCE CIRCULATION ADMINISTRATION, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT OF TAIWAN (REPUBLIC OF CHINA)
On May 9, 2023, the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan’s Parliament) passed the Organization Act of Environmental Ministry, which was officially promulgated by the President on May 24th. The Environmental Protection Administration was elevated to the status of the Environmental Ministry, with responsibilities including waste reduction, resource recycling and utilization, as well as cleanup and disposal operations. As part of this reorganization, the Resource Circulation Administration was established.
With “Resource Recycling and Zero Waste” as the governing principle, strategies and measures such as waste prevention by green design, resource circulation, value-added treatment of waste, well-functioning circulation network, innovative technologies and systems are being promoted. The aim is to achieve maximal resource circularity and minimal waste generation.
ABOUT SLEEPY TOFU
Sleepy Tofu is the No. 1 e-commerce bedding brand, designed and made in Taiwan, and shipped directly from the factory. Backed by real word-of-mouth reviews, we have sold tens of thousands of units over the years!
Sleepy Tofu combines our signature fluffy, cloud-like comfort with the solid soul of traditional Taiwanese firm beds. Specially engineered for Asian sleeping habits and body types, we have reinforced our pocket spring support system to deliver the perfect golden ratio: a surface that contours to your body like soft tofu, supported by a base as sturdy as a classic Taiwanese firm mattress.
To top it off, we offer a 100-night trial with a full refund if you’re not satisfied. Bring this tailor-made comfort home and experience the ultimate sleep quality in the comfort of your own bedroom!
ABOUT TPTEA — INSPIRED BY TANG DYNASTY TEA CULTURE
Inspired by the Tang Dynasty tea culture, TP Tea was founded in 2005 with one simple idea — connecting people through tea. With over 40 years of tea-making expertise from Chun Shui Tang, we are committed to quality and proudly serve only premium teas. Blending tradition with modern style and takeout convenience, each cup offers a sip of heritage and happiness!
