Uma Wang
Shanghai, China
Chinese designer Uma Wang creates rich, bold and internationally beloved clothing. Considered one of China’s first global labels, she transforms her inspirations from around the world into elegant fabrics and sophisticated shapes. The results are edgy collections radiating global originality.
Exhibiting undeniable skill, Uma Wang trained at the Chinese Textile University in Shanghai and Central St. Martins in London. She worked in production and designed for numerous labels for years before experimenting making her own knits and textiles. She expanded her designs to present a full collection, marking the start of her eponymous label in 2009. Since then she has been on an upward rise, amassing success and astounding the public without fail every year. She has showcased catwalk collections in London, Shanghai and Milan fashion weeks, with critical acclaim from industry insiders. In 2012, she received the honor of being chosen by the Council of Fashion Designers of America for its inaugural China exchange.
Uma Wang is one of the few designers who can render the most complex fabrics into something seemingly simple. By intimately knowing her fabrics, their weight and the way they move, Uma masterfully drapes silhouettes with a refined ease and simplicity, allowing the exquisite and unique textiles to shine as the focal point. Traveling between her two studios in Italy and Shanghai, her work always balances femininity and lightness with a strong avant-garde undertone. Textural, romantic, experimental and contemporary, Uma Wang is a designer to watch for years to come.
Ziggy Chen
Shanghai, China
Shanghai-born designer Ziggy Chen launched his namesake label in 2012 with the goal of crafting a line that blends modern elegance with practicality.
Inspired by his studies of history, architecture, photography and painting, Ziggy Chen’s aesthetic is primarily shaped by his understanding of the past and his appreciation for objects that transcend time. He explains, “Some [objects] are housed in majestic and splendid museums, others are buried in flea markets, but all of these things have one thing in common: they have a beauty that we cannot see in this day and age.”
With a throughline of both material innovation and high quality fabrics, each of Ziggy Chen’s collections build upon the designer’s prior seasons. Ziggy is particularly interested in the lived-in patina of unpretentious antique furniture and textiles. He notes a particular fondness for both Eastern and Western clothing from the 17th and 18th centuries, whose techniques are nearly unmatched by those produced in modern times.
Shirking a precious notion of perfection, Ziggy explains “Much of my inspiration for patterns and details in my clothing comes from tools, pottery, textiles and furniture that have been used, deformed, and broken down over time.”
Masnada
Campi Bisenzio, Italy
Masnada is the result of Angelo Iannello’s extensive study of shapes and the multiple identities they can become, combined with a profound love for experimentation and research. Founded in 2007, the line began with Angelo’s desire to transmit emotion through the use of beautiful materials and sensual designs. For Masnada, clothing is viewed as a work of art and created as such with exclusive fabrics and meticulously precise Italian tailoring.
Angelo leads a team of creative designers with a highly skilled range of experience, including theatrical costume design in the UK. Together they give form and volume to natural fiber fabrics with exquisite texture, creating each piece with sensitivity and care in Tuscany and Umbria. High quality is prioritized through a tailored, artisan finish and style with integrity. The quality craftsmanship also speaks to Masnada’s ethical commitment. The company is strongly against the inhumane labor practices of the fast fashion world, particularly child exploitation.
Masnada is aimed at those who love freedom, who are not afraid of breaking preconceived molds. Each garment from a Masnada collection is timeless, created in elegant fabrics with soft-hued colors of nature and modern, expert tailoring. The sensation of wearing Masnada becomes an inspiration for both the person wearing the piece and the people they encounter. Masnada’s goal is not to satisfy the masses, but to satisfy a select clientele who values natural materials and fine textiles. Masanada is designed for those who appreciate the process of creating a masterpiece.
Masnada Plûs is a distinct capsule collection from the Masnada company. Every single garment is slightly different, treated by hand in artisanal embellishment processes inspired by the world of contemporary art. Art techniques used include fresco, graffiti, acrylics, hatsuboku, water colors, ombré, gold leaf and resist-dyeing techniques. Because of the uniqueness of each item, they are numbered individually by the skilled artist who decorates the piece. From barely there tonal shadings to distinctive patterns in rich color ways, the exclusive natural fiber fabrics create a timeless look enhanced by precise Italian tailoring.
