Shiatzy Chen Spring Summer 2024 “A Mirage of Elegance“. Story by Eleonora de Gray, Editor-in-Chief of RUNWAY MAGAZINE. Photo Courtesy: Shiatzy Chen.
In the realm of ready-to-wear fashion, where style and accessibility intersect, the Shiatzy Chen SS2024 collection made its grand debut at the iconic Palais de Tokyo in Paris. This year marked the 31st show since Shiatzy Chen’s inaugural participation in Paris Fashion Week back in 2008. True to tradition, the brand once again seamlessly wove the mystique of the Orient into the fabric of Western culture, creating an exquisite tapestry of fashion, mythology, and modernity.
Mirage as the SS2024 Theme: Oriental Dreams Meet Western Sophistication
The Mirage theme of SS2024 draws its inspiration from the enchanting scenes of mirage cities found in Oriental tales. Imagine rays of sunlight filtering through rippling water, conjuring distant yet tantalizingly close visions of mythical cityscapes shaped by the breath of the Mirage Dragon. This creature, the most mythical and potent among the nine dragon species in mythology, takes center stage in the collection, breathing divine vitality into every piece.
Exploring Oriental Treasures: Qing Dynasty Blue and White Dragon Porcelain
The SS2024 collection embarks on a journey through the annals of Oriental history, exploring the intricate patterns of Qing Dynasty blue and white cloud dragon porcelain. Ocean waves and dragon prints come alive, infusing garments with a sense of transcendent vitality. The runway itself becomes a canvas, featuring meandering ocean currents and layered spaces that form a mesmerizing mirage of the dragon, inviting the audience on an immersive voyage of wonder and spectacle.
Craftsmanship That Breathes Life: Underwater Seascape
Throughout the collection, the focus is on creating an atmosphere, with textured fabrics mimicking the appearance of coral beneath the sea. Delicate lace overlays shimmer with a silvery metallic sheen reminiscent of seashells. Organza and tweed are stitched to create the illusionary underwater caves, and organic embellishments breathe life into otherwise lifeless garments. Mottled and hemstitched denim, linen-woven mule shoes, drawstring pouches, and square tote bags accentuate the casual and carefree rhythm of this season’s ready-to-wear collection.
A Collaboration of Art and Fashion: Daniela Busarello and 91.530 Le Marais
Art transcends language and culture, and this season, Shiatzy Chen invites us to embrace this universal truth. Collaborating with French-based Brazilian artist Daniela Busarello and the French art studio 91.530 Le Marais, the brand cultivated hemp materials on a local art farm in France to fuse the beauty of Oriental and Western cultures. The result is a breathtaking representation of the sea dragon through textiles and paintings. The colors used in these artworks are derived from condensation collected from wetlands worldwide, creating an embroidery craftsmanship that features a subdued and fading color palette harmonizing with the earth.
The Mirage Dragon: A Symbol of Elegance and Eternity in Ready-to-Wear
As the collection draws to a close, the Mirage Dragon emerges as the symbol of elegance and eternity. Through a global perspective, Shiatzy Chen engages in a captivating dialogue between mythology and modernity, spanning different historical and cultural contexts. With sustainability at its core, the collection pays tribute to the natural world. Exquisite and classic craftsmanship, including embroidery, print, and metal jacquard, reinterpret the paintings, capturing the poetic circle of life embodied in Oriental art with a gentle yet resolute force.
In the world of ready-to-wear fashion, where creativity meets craftsmanship, Shiatzy Chen’s SS2024 collection stands as a testament to the brand’s dedication to storytelling, artistry, and the fusion of cultures. Mirage may be an elusive vision, but in the world of fashion, it has become a tangible and enduring reality, a true masterpiece of elegance and Oriental poetry in ready-to-wear.