Taipei Fashion Week SS25 illustrates the resilience of youth with Live Art opening show to explore “Taiwan Type" spirit

Taipei, Taiwan – The Ministry of Culture launched Taipei Fashion Week SS25 on 17 October at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park with a showcase that transformed collections and cultural creativity into a sensory story around the theme, 'Taiwan Type Illustrated Fashion Book'. Drawing inspiration from everyday life, it highlighted the resilient and united spirit of the Taiwanese people while also interpreting the ambition of Taiwan's fashion industry to innovate and boldly step onto the global stage. 

Leading Taiwanese fashion brands and illustrators came together to explore the "Taiwan Type" spirit in a dynamic runway of live art as models moved through illustrations and live footage, immersing audiences in the energy of immediate artistic creation. 

Telling Taiwan’s Story through Fashion 

The Taiwanese Minister of Culture, Lee Yung-te, expressed the ongoing mission to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations and industry innovation. This philosophy underpins Taipei Fashion Week, which established its current format in 2018 - where designers draw from Taiwan's historical narratives, cultural vibrancy, and contemporary aesthetics to elevate local fashion, growing a diplomatic and creative platform for dialogue through designs that resonate internationally. 

The SS25 opening show featured collaborations between six fashion brands and six Taiwanese image creators:

• .67ARROW x @saitemiss merged edgy streetwear with dreamy illustrations, featuring Needle, a time-travelling cowboy in a post-apocalyptic world, who deconstructs fashion with survival gear and romantic lines, offering a striking yet comforting contrast that embodies hope amid chaos.

• #DAMUR x @weiweiboy presented "weiweiboy Goes to Berlin," an enchanting collection that blends soft, dreamy hues with bold, saturated colours and edgy plaid patterns, capturing a dreamlike journey through Berlin's vibrant nightlife and diverse culture while exploring themes of pop culture, art, and identity.

• DYCTEAM x @raimochi centred on "Define Your Character," which merged practical designs with bold illustrations of Taiwanese street scenes, including Raimochi’s characters, to create a collection that embodies the resilience and spirit of moving forward while empowering wearers to navigate their own rhythms and embrace them with confidence.

• RAY CHU x @mich_un vibes with Taiwan's resilient spirit and stunning floral landscapes, showcasing the bulbous beauty of the Crinum asiaticum flower through 3D printing. Inspired by the vibrant energy of parks that feel like bustling dance floors, this collection captures the joy of Tai Chi and community dances, giving wearers a sense of freedom.

• Story Wear x @chimney_animation transforms old materials in style true to the brand’s zero-waste ethos. The collection "ONE" embodies the essence of artist Fish Wang's signature orange, referencing the vivid warmth of PANTONE 158, evoking the twilight glow of a bygone era.

• TANGTSUNGCHIEN x @sammi_00712 draws inspiration from Xia Xian's whimsical illustrations, incorporating Taiwan's unique natural landscapes and urban scenes—like sun, mountain views, and ferns—into relaxed silhouettes that blend playful graphics and textures, resulting in vibrant garments that reflect the spirit of Taiwan's urban youth culture.

Forging Connections through Fashion

Italian-French heritage brand Pierre Cardin will make its Taipei debut alongside the schedule of homegrown designers such as Jenn Lee, Gioia Pan, Inf and Seivson.

As well as international press, buyers and industry leaders, Taipei Fashion Week fosters dialogue between fashion designers and image creators to bring fashion closer to younger audiences. This year, the opening show added a public session, allowing fashion enthusiasts to register and attend the event. All 700 spots were filled within just nine minutes of registration, reflecting the market’s strong appetite and support for Taipei Fashion Week. In addition to the runway presentations, the public exhibition ‘Taiwan Type Super Swag’, hosted from 17 October to 21 October 2024, showcases Taiwan's unique history, biodiversity, street culture, generational perspectives and the irreplaceable "Taipei Type" spirit.