The designer Angel Chen and the artist Wang Jiajia both studied at Central Saint Martins in London; Chen graduated in Fashion Design while Jiajia acquired Honors in Art& Design.
While the two did not experience Central Saint Martins simultaneously, their personal lives and works share many similarities. Both benefited from multi-cultural assimilations and both now devote themselves to shaping a leading role in their works – either fashion or art.
This collection incubated in a digital conversation between artist and designer sharing works, bouncing ideas, looking back at their experiences in the light of the evolution of their respective creative processes.
Jiajias creations, exclusive to the ANGEL CHEN SS21 collection, are a continuation of his solo exhibition “Elegant, Circular, Timeless” presented at SPURS Gallery in Beijing earlier this year. The vibrant colours, the “Eyes”, the messaging, all pivotal elements in the works of Wang Jiajia, take on a new dimension when adorning Chen’s garments.
Angel Chen’s colourful approach to fashion and fusion of East and West has become her trademark. The same way Angel expertly manipulates colour, she instinctively and naturally inserts Wang’s artistry in the collection.
The result is an impactful collection strong in vitality and sentiment. Chen’s signature styles find stamina against Jiajia’s works in print by adding a cover of transparent sequins, and her choice of carefully sprinkled upcycled Swarovski crystals, to further spotlight colour strokes. Angel’s maturity is evidenced by the contrast between the playfulness of tie-dye in colours that mirror Wang’s art and hinting at her time in Netflix’s Next in Fashion, against a debut series of evening looks made out of black sequined separates and colour-neutral dresses smartly styled with her Canada Goose collaboration pieces.
The sedentary nature of 2020, while challenging, has favoured conversations between industry leaders and creatives at large such as the one between Angel Chen and Wang Jiajia. In an unexpected twist, it re-created a bygone familiar environment where creatives used to interact and thrive – a virtual existential café.