For this collection, MUKZIN draws inspiration from “Jialong” (嘉珑), a mysterious and culturally resonant symbol rooted in Tibetan heritage. Combined with Guinan Tibetan Embroidery, an intangible cultural heritage craft from the Tibetan plateau, the collection presents a contemporary experiment where ancient traditions meet modern fashion.

MUKZIN invited HONOR and Belgian bag brand KIPLING to join the journey, exploring new possibilities for traditional craftsmanship through the lens of technology and urban life. At the same time, collaborations with ECOCOSY and Sateri’s FINEXCELL Lyocell on innovative sustainable fabrics bring together environmental responsibility and traditional craftsmanship, connecting heritage with the future of fashion.

MUKZIN F/W : Symbols of Fortune and Well-Being

As the opening show of New York Fashion Week F/W 2020, MUKZIN looked to Chinese history and mythology for eight protective symbols representing centuries-old wishes for fortune, health, and prosperity.

Traditional intangible cultural heritage techniques were combined with contemporary graphics and innovative technical fabrics, transforming these symbolic objects into details throughout the collection.

A vivid Pixiu—a mythical creature traditionally associated with wealth and protection—appeared in dynamic form across an asymmetrically cut black qipao.

On silk shirts, vibrant bamboo motifs symbolized continuous growth and rising success.

The gourd, long regarded in traditional Chinese culture as a spiritual and auspicious object, was transformed into delicate miniature bag-like charms.

Following Han Wen’s signature maximalist approach, these seemingly contrasting elements were layered and mixed to create a visual language where Eastern vintage sensibility meets a modern, futuristic spirit.

For MUKZIN, tradition is never simply something to preserve.

It is something to reinterpret, disrupt, and bring into the present.

About MUKZIN

Founded in 2014 by designers Han Wen (KATE HAN) and George Feng, MUKZIN was born from a shared fascination with Western art and fashion, alongside a desire to reconnect younger generations with their cultural heritage.

From a pan-Asian perspective, MUKZIN reinterprets the richness of Chinese traditional culture through unconventional contemporary design. Using clothing as its medium, the brand blends historical references, craftsmanship, and modern aesthetics to create its own interpretation of New Orientalism.

Rather than simply reproducing traditional symbols, MUKZIN deconstructs and transforms them, allowing cultural heritage to take on new meaning within a contemporary fashion context.

Han Wen: Tradition Meets Rebellion

Born in Dalian, China, Han Wen graduated from the School of Art at the University of Leeds in the UK. She founded MUKZIN in 2014 and serves as its Creative Director.

Through contemporary design, Han Wen continuously explores and reconstructs the diverse visual language of Chinese culture. Since its founding, MUKZIN has participated in Shanghai Fashion Week for three consecutive seasons, and in 2017, Han Wen received the Asian Fashion Federation’s Pioneer Designer Award.

In 2018, she brought MUKZIN’s F/W collection “Female Warrior” to Paris, attracting widespread attention. Between 2019 and 2020, she presented collections inspired by “Dan” and “Qian Jin Fang” at London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week respectively.

Her work is characterized by a constant tension between heritage and disruption. Through this approach, Han Wen and MUKZIN have become part of the evolving language of contemporary Eastern aesthetics.