Blanc de Chine Unveils Spring/Summer 2012 Collection

Hong Kong Brand Shows Traditional Chinese Roots At New York Runway Show

This past weekend, members of the Jing Daily team attended Blanc de Chine‘s (源) Spring/Summer 2012 runway show, held at the brand’s New York flagship on 5th Avenue.

The Spring/Summer 2012 collection reflects the brand’s stated focus on cultural authenticity, adopting traditional Chinese art forms like ink and wash paintings as the central design theme. The influence of ink and wash art isn’t limited only to the shapes and lines seen in the collection, but also reflects the brand’s understanding of Chinese craftsmanship. According to Blanc de Chine, the S/S 2012 collection is designed to demonstrate how mood is articulated in ink and wash paintings by depicting “qi” (气, life force) with brush and ink. The main theme of the collection is the absence of color, as the proportion of bare to occupied space is traditionally considered the highest level of art in Chinese ink and wash paintings.

For the brand’s summer collection, Blanc de Chine works a wide range of fabrics and materials, including chiffon, lace, sequins and thin cotton into its women’s summer collection, in an attempt to imitate the effect of depth in ink and wash paintings. For the men’s summer collection, the brand focuses on light summer fabrics, such as jersey and poly-crepe, with various degrees of lining. All men’s pieces are based on the brand’s trademark take on Zhongshan suits and Da Shanghai designs.

Founded in Hong Kong as a workshop in 1986 and as a retail group in 1990, Blanc de Chine is often considered the first international Chinese premium fashion brand to adapt traditional Chinese design culture for the world of modern couture.

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Special thanks to Blanc de Chine and photographer Shawn Punch

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