Asian designers shine at NYFW Spring/Summer 2025

What happened New York Fashion Week (NYFW) Spring/Summer 2025 kicked off with flair as American heavyweights like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger set the tone with red, white, and blue styles, reflecting Americana and old money aesthetics that have dominated the mainstream zeitgeist throughout 2024. However, beyond the politics and nostalgia of American fashion, diversity took center stage with a strong presence of Asian designers and creatives. From acclaimed Chinese creative Grace Chen to Italian-Chinese designer Kim Shui, as well as subversive labels like Bad Binch Tongtong and renowned Chinese-American brands such as Sandy Liang, Asian creatives not only dominated the runways but also the front rows. Celebrities like K-pop star Krystal Jung and Thai actor Fourth Nattawat further highlighted this vibrant representation. The Jing Take While American classics opened the week, it was the diverse and innovative voices of Asian designers stealing the spotlight at NYFW Spring/Summer 2025 thusfar. Kim Shui, the Italian-Chinese designer, stood out with her exploration of fragility and strength, inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi and artist Matthew Barney’s terracotta sculptures. Debuting her first-ever menswear pieces, Shui’s collection featured blue-and-white porcelain-like fabrics paired with white lace, symbolizing the art of mending broken pottery with gold resin. Shui's collection celebrated resilience, with the scars of the past becoming metaphors for beauty and strength. A collaboration with Nike, featuring gymnast Jordan Chiles, further highlighted the fusion of sport and fashion, with Shui’s work embodying empowerment and transformation. Grace Chen, a stalwart of the Chinese couture world, made her ready-to-wear debut with the “Mothers & Daughters” collection. Known for dressing stars like Helen Mirren and Oprah Winfrey, Chen seamlessly transitioned her iconic "GC-6" silhouette, honed over 15 years, into a more accessible format. Her designs paid tribute to the complexity of modern womanhood, blending East-West aesthetics to convey both power and elegance. The collection, which spanned professional and personal attire, bridged cultures and generations, reflecting the multifaceted roles women play today. "The ready-to-wear collection was presented exactly as I envisioned it," Grace Chen told Jing Daily "[The collection is] a perfect blend of New York's modern edge combined with the softness of Chinese aesthetics. As many have pointed out to me, it strikes the ideal balance between femininity and strength. I believe it was a successful debut and an exciting return to New York City!” Bad Binch Tongtong's Terence Zhou took a more avant-garde approach with his “Whisper Across Dimensions” collection. Blurring the lines between fashion and performance art, his show was a spiritual journey, with ethereal models embodying themes of connection and universal love, offering a strikingly meditative experience. "For a long time, people around me would say, ‘If you are trying to major in art or fashion, you cannot compete with white people,'" Zhou told W Magazine back in 2023. “But creativity is in Asian people’s DNA — our culture is rich with philosophy, sculpting, pottery, visual art, and poetry,” From boundary-pushing innovation to the seamless integration of tradition and modernity, Asian creatives were at the forefront of NYFW, redefining the future of fashion. The Jing Take reports on a piece of the leading news and presents our editorial team’s analysis of the key implications for the luxury industry. In the recurring column, we analyze everything from product drops and mergers to heated debate sprouting on Chinese social media.

Asian designers shine at NYFW Spring/Summer 2025

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Published September 10, 2024

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Asian designers shine at NYFW Spring/Summer 2025