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Image Credits: Shiatzy Chen
The Silk Road Reimagined
From the rich depths of ink-black silks to the quiet shimmer of metallic threads, Shiatzy Chen’s Fall 2025 collection felt less like a seasonal offering and more like a meditation on heritage, craftsmanship, and the evolving face of luxury fashion.
Held at Paris’s Palais de Tokyo, the show unfolded against a backdrop of mythic imagery—towering posters depicting tales from the Miao people of China, including the butterfly and phoenix, a love story traced back to the Neolithic era. These legends were more than decoration—they framed a collection steeped in storytelling.
Entitled Far and Near, the collection explored the theme of migration through the lens of Miao embroidery, an intangible cultural heritage from Guizhou province. Inspired by the Ten Types of Miao Embroidery, designer Wang Chen Tsai-Hsia worked with seven artisans to bring ten sacred techniques to life. From the bold intricacies of braid and horsetail stitches to the sculptural elegance of piling, relief, and coiling stitches, each garment became a moving poem—written not with words, but with threads.
White, red, black, floral, and blue—the colours of the five Miao communities—guided the palette of the season, rendered in layers of platinum, pink, black-gold, and cerulean. The garments unfolded in tactile contrasts: fluffy and short pleats, leather structures, pleated hems echoing traditional Miao floral skirts—all grounding the show in a dialogue between history and future-forward design.
The embroidery—playful in parts, reverent in others—celebrated the Miao people’s heritage through layered textures and auspicious motifs. Metal studs referenced Miao silversmithing traditions, appearing as detachable brooches shaped like suns, butterflies, and dragons. Even the accessories told their own story: ten classic Shiatzy Chen handbags were reimagined to reflect each embroidery technique, joined by hobo and crossbody bags that embraced modern utility.
What resonated most was the emotional tension: fluidity countered by structure, strength threaded through softness. In a world where fashion is finally embracing global perspectives, Shiatzy Chen’s collection stood as a moving reminder that luxury isn’t just what we wear—it’s the memory, meaning, and craftsmanship woven into every stitch.
This collection is a powerful reminder that fashion isn’t just about silhouette or trend—it’s about storytelling, identity, and honouring where we come from. — Maria Ugrinovski, Editor-in-Chief
