Chinese fashion designer Wen Pan believes sustainability is something everyone in the industry should embrace
The brand’s capsule collection for Net-a-Porter, produced in collaboration with Hong Kong’s upcycling specialists The R Collective, was made using zero-waste patterns
Why did you decide to go into fashion? “I grew up in Hubei province and studied literature. I always wanted to do something creative related to arts and design. I was eventually attracted to fashion because I liked the idea of transforming an idea into something 3D, like an art piece.
“I decided to go to Central Saint Martins [in Britain] after watching the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. It made London seem like an exciting city with lots to offer.”
Why did you start your own label straight out of college? “I interned with brands like Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane but I wanted to do something on my own, to express my vision. I wanted to create clothes that were not about fantasy but were rooted in the real world.
“I liked the idea of playing with more unconventional Chinese aesthetics – it’s not always about pretty patterns, embroideries or silk. When I studied literature I learned many artists in ancient China found beauty in brokenness and I wanted to explore this with my line.”
What is the starting point for your collections? “My clothes tell the story of the traces people leave behind. Our collections can be inspired by washed sheets hanging up to dry or clothes worn by factory workers.