“Martial arts may be absent, but chivalry must never be.”
 — Liang Yusheng  

For MUKZIN, the spirit of the female warrior is never simply about fighting or wielding a sword. It is about independence, courage, justice, and the freedom to define one’s own path.

For its F/W collection, MUKZIN designer Han Wen brought the world of Chinese wuxia to Paris, creating a dialogue between Eastern cultural heritage and contemporary fashion.

In Western culture, wuxia is often translated through images of swordsmen, martial arts, and extraordinary physical abilities. Yet within Chinese culture, “wu” (martial arts) is only a means; “xia” (chivalry) is the spirit that truly matters. A xia is not defined by strength, but by integrity, loyalty, compassion, and a willingness to stand for what is right.

This idea becomes even more powerful through the figure of the female warrior.

In early Chinese literature, women were often portrayed as secondary figures. Yet in the legendary stories of the Tang dynasty, female warriors stepped into the center of the narrative. They were bold, independent, fearless, and determined to take control of their own destinies.

The collection’s English title, “Jade in the Shadow,” reflects the dual identity of the female warrior: Jade represents the woman herself, while Shadow suggests the hidden identity of the xia moving through the jianghu—the imagined world of Chinese martial arts.

For the Paris show, MUKZIN chose Elephant Paname, a historic space in central Paris. Its classical French architecture became a deliberate contrast to the collection’s Eastern wuxia language.

Within the Baroque arches and interconnected rooms, MUKZIN created a contemporary interpretation of a traditional Chinese garden. Wuxia-inspired elements disrupted the harmony of the French architecture, creating a visual tension between East and West, tradition and modernity, breaking and rebuilding.

Even the invitation became part of the story. Inspired by the ancient identification tokens worn by warriors and secret agents, MUKZIN created embroidered waipai—identity plaques—representing the female warrior’s two identities: “Female Warrior” and “Hermit.”

MUKZIN also collaborated with Tmall Guopin to introduce a new generation of Chinese fashion brands to an international audience. A mysterious black cat appears across the collaboration pieces, embodying the duality of the warrior and the hidden self.

Rather than simply recreating history, MUKZIN chose to reinterpret its spirit. The brand invited Chinese-Canadian model Mae Lapres to star in a fictional Female Warrior film trailer, inspired by the visual language of classic martial arts cinema.

Part homage, part satire, the film plays with the Western imagination of wuxia—often reduced to swords, fighting, and physical power—while bringing the conversation back to what truly defines a xia.

A female warrior does not fight to become someone else.
She fights to become fully herself.

MUKZIN F/W “Female Warrior” — For the women who choose their own path.