Fashion Scout the international showcase for fashion pioneers is excited to present the London based eponymous brand WEN PAN as the winner of the globally acclaimed SS20 Merit Award. Created in 2009 and now in its tenth year, the new talent initiative supports the winning designer across two seasons and has been created to support and develop new designer businesses on a global level.
The Merit Award provides a unique platform for the brightest new designers, with many going on to become established labels within the international fashion industry. Wen Pan follows in the successful footsteps of past winners including; Eudon Choi, Phoebe English, David Koma, Roberts|Wood, Han Wen, Xiao Li, Katie Ann McGuigan, EDDA, i-am-chen and AW19 winner Tolu Coker. The Merit Award is a highlight event and acts as a key draw for UK and international press and buyers each season.
WEN PAN is a London based womenswear label launched in 2018 and now in its third season. The brand fuses the spirit of oriental recluses with romantic grunge aesthetics. By using raw fluidity and layers of textures, WEN PAN evokes characters in a balance of subtlety and freedom. The design journey always starts with human traces and the attitude from the common people, ending with timeless deconstructed pieces, which translate brokenness into delicacy. WEN PAN shows an image of quietness in chaos, and celebrates the confidence in imperfection. The brand appeals to women with a similarly strong sense of individuality as they offer garments that nourish women’s needs of style on an emotional level. WEN PAN provides a way to project their strength of character and translate an attitude through a piece
The brand explores the beauty of brokenness, traces of human presence, Chinese ancient recluses and the 1990 grunge. The SS20 collection returns with contrasting floral prints and textures, mixing fragile linen layers and sheer silk fabrics with rough cotton drapery and asymmetric cutting. Wen continues using utility wear with workwear detailing in a palette of muted greens and faded sandy cream.
Having shown previously in Shanghai and Paris, WEN PAN boasts a global stockist list including; Opening Ceremony, Espejto, YMOYNOT, YoungBritishDesigners, CHUSHI and Selfridges, where her AW19 work is currently part of the Design Gallery Installation. Her work has been internationally recognised by publications and platforms such as Vogue, View, Stylist, China Times, Essential Homme, S Eleven Magazine, Textile View and Lovesome. Wen graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2015. Before launching her namesake label, Wen undertook several successful stints at renowned fashion houses including Christopher Kane, Alexander McQueen and Uma Wang.
Selected from hundreds of applicants by a judging panel, the relaxed layered aesthetic of WEN PAN drew attention to from industry experts including Martyn Roberts – Fashion Scout’s Founder and Creative Director, Contanza Lombardi – Next Gen Buyer at Browns, Niamph Tuft – Fashion Revolution and Hannah Craggs – Youth Trends Editor at WGSN. Using their expertise, the judging panel gathered in June 2019, spending the day looking through designs and portfolios to establish this season’s Merit Award Winner.
Fashion Scout continues to host both UK and International designers across high impact catwalk shows and dynamic presentations, plus introduce a new exhibition area of emerging talent. With an unrivalled heritage spanning 28 seasons Fashion Scout is the ultimate and largest independent platform to showcase emerging and established design talent during London Fashion Week.