SHANGHAI — To home in on the idea of high jewelry via Chinese expressions, Chow Tai Fook looked to historical garments for inspiration — the result was a nuanced interpretation anchored by rhythmic geometry and refined textures.
The collection was unveiled in an intimate presentation in Shanghai on Wednesday, meant to honor the city’s fashion history, and was a follow-up to the line’s inaugural presentation that explored Chinese traditional architecture, dubbed “Timeless Harmony,” in Hangzhou last year.
Featuring more than 100 pieces, this year’s “Chinese Couture” collection unfolded across five themes that each drew from a defining material, motif or construction detail in Chinese couture.
Rather than referencing specific dynasties, the collection was anchored in the continuity of Chinese craft traditions across five millennia.
In “Jade Ombre,” the chromatic nature of jadeite, one of the most prized gemstones in China, was granted a sense of organic movement, complemented by diamonds and emeralds; “Cord” recreated silk cord in diamond formation that shined from every angle; rethinking the “Ribbon,” a significant motif from the Han and Tang dynasties, architecturally layered Chinese bows in 22-karat gold were combined with stately pearls to add a modern twist; “Button knot,” the iconic dress closure system, was filtered through the lens of a geometric language via Burmese jadeite and minimal gold lines; “Yun” reinterpreted the curved edges of an auspicious cloud, a symbol of longevity, in pieces in gold, jadeite and colored gemstones that relayed an harmonious ideal.
