A treasure of ancient Chinese culture, the Shan Hai Jing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas) is a renowned encyclopaedic work of art, culture and heritage dated before the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Within this endless scroll, tales of myths and monsters are drawn to life, and have since been passed down through generations. For Feng Chen Wang, these stories have resonated with her since childhood. They inspired her to immerse herself in calligraphy and traditional painting, and they inspired her FW25 collection.

On the runway, the creatures of Shan Hai Jing were conjured: firstly as handcrafted ceramic sculptures carried by models and crafted in collaboration with artisans from China’s ceramic capital, Jingdezhen; then as intricate prints woven and printed across the collection’s fabrications. Contemporary suiting emphasised the brand’s signature easeful silhouette – this season interestingly reimagined in neoprene tech that imitates the properties of traditional wool – alongside strong outerwear – buckled, belted, and multi-pocketed shearling-collar jackets were like sci-fi Top Gun, next to bombers, gilets, and workwear denim styles. We also have to talk about footwear: a reimagining of UGG’s Tasman Lug shoe, which was transformed into sculptural monster feet that tread the indisputable footprints of the Shan Hai Jing.