Feng Chen Wang Autumn/Winter 2025 Show Review

Inspired by her past, both personal and historical, Feng Chen Wang brought back memories to her Autumn/Winter 2025 runway show.

“My fascination with Shan Hai Jing has been long-standing, and it has consistently influenced my creative process,” the Chinese designer tells us after showing her AW25 collection during Paris Fashion Week. “In fact, my home and studio are filled with antique creature artefacts, which have become key sources of inspiration for my designs.” Indeed, the classic Chinese ancient text Shan Hai Jing (roughly translated to The Classic of Mountains and Seas) served as a creative base for the designer, with its vivid depictions of mythological creatures, texts and maps.

The result came in the form of ceramic-style fantastical animal adornments and hand-printed fabrics inspired by the art of calligraphy, capturing the all-engrossing feeling of childhood wonder. Arguably the most eye-catching piece was the re-imagining of the UGG Talisman shoe–a monstrous, grotesque, statement silhouette, recognised by its animal cracked-skin base and fang-like toe box.

Blending in her design sensibilities with her artistic creations, this season saw Wang carve out her own whimsical realm, whilst remaining grounded within the modern fashion scene. Amongst traditional nods, the collection featured a series of staple bomber jackets, sleeveless gilets, cut-out blazers, and structured denim coats, focusing on an expansive outerwear offering, fit for all types of environments and lifestyles. “I approach my work with a balance of imagination and functionality,” she explains. “I view my creative process as an opportunity to produce not only pieces of art but also designs that are commercially viable.”  

As Wang matures as a designer, the equilibrium between the two is something she has “ a better understanding of,”  prioritising the consumer and their desires, without compromising her own instincts. Balancing creativity and commerciality, traditional craftsmanship and innovative techniques, ancient myths and modern tales, Wang delicately places herself as an essential service stop on the Fashion Week circuit. From East to West, Feng Chen Wang is spreading her roots all over the world, with her folklore-infused modern looks.


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