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Converse x Feng Chen Wang
A new take on sportswear-inspired classics
Feng Chen Wang and Converse continue their long-standing partnership with an exciting capsule collection of sports-inspired, deconstructed pieces. We talk to the influential designer about the collaboration, her heritage and her approach to fashion.
By Julia Carevic
20 June 2024 · 4 min read
Feng Chen Wang describes herself as a storyteller. “I want to share stories from the past. My designs are so personal, and each collection is an open door to my memories and culture,” the Chinese-born, London-based designer explains. “There is so much that has not yet been explored, and my country offers endless inspiration.” Wang grew up in the south of China before moving to London, where she studied MA Fashion Menswear at the prestigious Royal College of Art and later founded her eponymous label. Since then, she has made a name for herself in the international design scene.
Wang is known for creating deconstructed garments with a future-modern, yet minimalist appeal. Her collections fuse luxury with streetwear, East with West, and conceptual elements with wearability. Over the years, her forward-thinking approach has caught the attention of many, including the renowned streetwear brand Converse.
SHOP CONVERSE X FENG CHEN WANG
Their partnership began in 2018 and has since produced numerous exciting designs, such as their exclusive take on the Jack Purcell Mid sneaker. This summer, the duo further cements its relationship with a limited-edition capsule collection featuring a range of sportswear-inspired, deconstructed pieces.
The drop sees seven distinctive garments and a new iteration of the famed 2-in-1 Chuck 70 silhouette, all reflecting Wang’s key design cues. Standout pieces include cargo pants with detachable legs, a jacket with shoelace-inspired drawcord knitting, and shoes, which fuse two sneaker halves into one cohesive whole. As the collection lands on Zalando, we take the opportunity to talk to Wang about her unique approach to fashion, bridging the gap between East and West, and her latest collaboration and ongoing partnership with Converse.
“ This collection is all about self expression and confidence. ”
- Feng Chen Wang
You’ve described yourself as a creative storyteller. What story are you telling with your latest collection with Converse?
This collection is all about self-expression and confidence. It’s about being able to wear what you like in a way you want. Modular designs are always present at the brand. It’s a way of really making a garment your own. But overall, the collection represents an attitude and an abundance of confidence.
Speaking of making a garment your own, you’ve added your signature deconstructed design language to Converse’s iconic Chuck 70 sneaker. This time, they arrive in black and off-white. Can you tell us more about the choice of colours?
I play with colour a lot, whether it’s in art, fashion or other design. For this collection, I wanted to see what the absence of colour would feel like. Black and white provide just as much drama as a deep red or fuchsia pink, and I loved that for this iteration.
In your designs, you fuse streetwear elements with luxury fashion. How do the two come together for you?
I appreciate the nuances of both, but I feel there is no difference. Luxury doesn’t apply to an aesthetic. It’s in feeling, it’s in attention to detail, it’s in construction. That’s what makes it luxury.
You’ve had an ongoing partnership with Converse since 2018. What makes Feng Chen Wang and Converse such a good fit?
We are both brands that love self-expression and freedom. With each collaboration, I feel like we cement our design aesthetics even further, creating something instantly recognisable as Converse x Feng Chen Wang.
Your collaboration with Converse in 2019 marked your first womenswear capsule. However, your career began in menswear. Do you still see yourself as a menswear designer first? Does your training in menswear bring a unique perspective to womenswear?
Although I trained in menswear, my collections also extend my personal style, which involves wearing many masculine pieces. The brand and the collections, however, are genderless. I create clothing for the people who love to wear them, regardless of gender. Many of my references are menswear-related, adding another layer to the more feminine pieces in the collections, but my designs are never gendered.
“ Luxury doesn’t apply to an aesthetic. ”
- Feng Chen Wang
CONVERSE X FENG CHEN WANG
Let’s talk about you as a designer. Your Chinese heritage often influences your work, for example, your ‘Made in China’ collection from Spring/Summer 2018 or your Autumn/Winter 2019 collection that tells your mother’s story about raising her family. How has your cultural heritage shaped you as a designer?
It has always been the stimulus to my collections. It is the reason I design. It is such an honour to present heritage and culture through my collections, and allow wearers to connect to something they may have never discovered.
You aim to bridge the gap between East and West in your work. Can you tell us more about this approach?
My brand was founded in London, where I fell in love with silhouette and streetwear. However, my experiences before were all influenced by Asia, from details to fabrications. From a design perspective, it’s mixing my Eastern culture and heritage with a Western silhouette. Not only that, but it also brings traditional practices, techniques and crafts to a larger audience.
As a fashion designer, what’s your motive to bring the two worlds together? What thoughts or topics come up for you in this process?
It’s a chance to explore the history of Asia. For centuries, they have been experts in craft and technique, and being able to bring these ancient practices to a modern world through design has always been intriguing. There are endless avenues, endless inspiration and endless concepts to explore.
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