Industrial Design Meets Futuristic Materials

Last week, Beijing fashion designer Chi Zhang–a Jing Daily favorite–debuted his autumn/winter 2011 collection at the D.Park club in the 798 arts district. Held in collaboration with Martell and the Chinese social network Nexus of Elegance, as we previously reported, Chi Zhang’s runway show also included live music from the European DJ group “Luluxpo” and previous winners of the China Global Battle of the Bands, The Amazing Insurance Salesmen. Featuring Chi Zhang’s trademark Mad Max-meets-The Fifth Element future-industrial style (what Stylites in Beijing referred to as “a combination of S&M and goth”), an aesthetic reflected by the Swarovski Elements-studded gas masks worn by models, the collection was nothing if not avant-garde.

Though the shorts and skimpy ensembles on display wouldn’t hold up to Beijing’s notoriously harsh winters, they reiterated what many in the Chinese fashion world already knew: Chi Zhang’s designs aren’t for everyone, but they’re some of the most interesting currently coming out of China.Models

wore Swarovski Elements-studded gas masks

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection

Chi Zhang A/W 2011 collection