Yushan Li and Jun Zhou – the founders of the Chinese brand Pronounce – are living their dream in more ways than one. Heading to Italy for their debut spot on the Milanese Fashion Week schedule, Li and Zhou centred their collection around prominent Taoist thinker, Zhuangazi and his renowned butterfly dream theory. Aptly entitled Zhuangzi’s Butterfly Dream, the collection mirrors the theory by encouraging onlookers to question their reality. As Zhuangzi famously posited – was he a man dreaming of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being a man?
Equipped with this philosophy, models took to the runway in garments adorned with threads, insect flight paths and, of course, butterflies. A print detailing a corduroy rope wiggled across sweatshirts and matching sets, with its 3D iteration snaking down baggy slacks and the brand’s signature oversized Gourd Húlu bag.
Chinese actress Hu Die – also known by her English name Butterfly Wu – who rose to prominence in the 1920s and 1930s, was another major influence on the collection. Her penchant for ethereal flare and unpredictability was mirrored in the the offering, taking form in fluffy accessories, swollen shapes and cartoon prints.
Overall, silhouettes embodied a fusion between Eastern and Western aesthetics, combining details from traditional garments like the Cheongsam with thick materials like coated merino wool and alpaca.
Collaborations with other upcoming brands like jewellery maker Undetected and shoemaker Aokang peppered the offering, along with a preview of the Pronounce x Pop Mart x The Monsters capsule which was revealed during the show.
Photography courtesy of Pronouce.
