MM6 Maison Margiela x Chen Peng, Arc’Teryx x Songtsam And More: China Collabs Of The Week

Peng Chen’s eponymous brand debuted at Paris Fashion Week on Monday March 6 2023, further asserting the London-based, Jingdezhen-raised designer’s reputation for producing couture-style puffer designs. Days later came news of a collaboration with MM6 Maison Margiela. The Maison Margiela diffusion line collection seamlessly followed Chenpeng’s predominantly black, artistically avant-garde Fall 2023 collection. It was a change from the vibrant color palettes of previous seasons, yet set the scene for the upcoming all-black three-piece MM6 collab, which will launch in September — just three months into 2023, and it’s looking to be one of Chenpeng’s best years yet. Other notable news this week includes Arc’Teryx releasing its first ever local co-branded capsule, and Robert Wun’s Staccato footwear officially going on sale. For our verdict on these collaborations, read below and subscribe here to receive these weekly updates straight to your inbox. Staccato x Robert Wun Date March 10 Verdict Presented as part of Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, which took place February 27 to March 7, the Staccato x Robert Wun footwear collection has cracked social media platforms in the mainland — on Weibo, the hashtag #Staccato x Robert Wun# had as of yesterday generated 2.5million reads. Designers often collaborate with footwear brands for their collections as it enables them to leverage the reputation of an esteemed name and enter a new product category, while simultaneously putting their imprint on popular existing styles. Staccato x Robert Wun does exactly that. Since its launch in 1998, Hong Kong brand Staccato has honed a reputation for elegant footwear. It has amassed 321,000 followers on Weibo. Meanwhile, Robert Wun also from Hong Kong, is much lesser known, though well-respected in the fashion industry as a cutting-edge designer. He has amassed just 249 followers on Weibo. The collab is bound to generate further exposure for Robert Wun, especially across Asia. The footwear brand has previously collaborated with established names such as Jeremy Scott and even China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation on a shoe and bag collection in 2022. Arc’Teryx x Songtsam Date March 11 Verdict China-based boutique hotel group Songtsam has found common ground with world-leading Canadian outerwear brand Arc'Teryx. It's a move that proves crossing industries can open up access to consumers whose interests overlap, with both names capitalizing on people’s desire for adventure. The collection is strong on cultural references. Inspired by Kawagarbo Peak, Yunnan province’s highest mountain, and climbing in China, it sports a logo that references the 13 peaks of the Meili Snow Mountain range. Comprising a Beta AR Jacket, Gamma Hoodie, and Aerios 15L Backpack, the collection is stellar merchandise for Songtsam, seeing as Arc’Teryx is one of the best-performing brands in the streetwear space. On the other side: As China opens up and people start enjoying leisurely activities once more, this is a great route for Songtsam to reach high-spending Gen-Z and Millennial clientele. MM6 Maison Margiela x Chenpeng Date September, 2023 Verdict Since launching in 2015, Chenpeng has established a reputation for artistically unique padded outerwear silhouettes. This three-piece MM6 Maison Margiela line builds on that, merging Chenpeng’s silhouettes with the French luxury label's sleek monochrome aesthetic and logo detailing. Though MM6 Margiela is known for its collaborations, it recently released Salomons for Spring 2023 — worn by Rihanna at last month’s Super Bowl — this is its first tie-up with a Chinese label. In comparison to other local independent designers that have a presence outside of China on the European fashion week schedules, Chen Peng has a uniquely strong fanbase in the mainland. It's become a firm local favorite, thanks in part to its national costumes for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. In terms of both avant-garde design innovation and engaging Chinese consumers, this is a winning collab.

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MM6 Maison Margiela x Chen Peng, Arc’Teryx x Songtsam And More: China Collabs Of The Week