Shanghai Tang F/W 2018-19 designed by Massimiliano Giornetti

Shanghai Tang F/W 2018-19 designed by Massimiliano Giornetti

The first Shanghai Tang collection designed by Massimiliano Giornetti, Fall/Winter 2018-19, was presented at Milano Moda Donna, on Wednesday 21 February. Following the success of the first capsule created for this Hong Kong brand as Project Supervisor, this new position firmly confirms the role of Massimiliano Giornetti as the style guide for the various branches of the brand, today owned jointly by the Hong Kong Private Equity fund Cassia Investments and the Italian businessman Alessandro Bastagli, who is also its Executive Chairman.

“A dance of threads. A dreamlike journey from Italy to China: a silken thread strung between the West and the East, a veritable bridge extending from Europe to the faraway lands of the Dragon Throne that follows the historical traces of two ancient cultures. A blend of textiles and threads of overlapping motifs that intertwine two worlds and two contrasting yet complementary visions as if by magic.

A palette that gradates from light pastel shades and then intensifies, becoming vivid and allegorical. Light pink turns into fuchsia, peach becomes tangerine, and light blue deepens to a turquoise enamel. Straw colours slip lavishly into imperial yellow on black. Venice and the resplendent Cathay appear in unison in brocades that erupt in vibrant abstraction.

Fabrics on fabrics, geometric inlay work, empty spaces on top of filled space. The traditional mandarin garment is the inspiration for the bulbous black dress coat, with a barely visible rounded collar and spotted inserts on the pockets. The traditional exuberant and ironic playfulness of the Maison is evident in the contrasting printed linings. As well as this, animal print coats stand in opposition to the vivid, amethyst interior. The full sleeve jacket with a large stand collar, combined with thread embroidered, brocade-effect trousers are now the new luxury outfit.

The prints on scarves recount this dreamlike journey, and are framed like artwork, featuring images of war horses, traditional costume, fierce dragons, snuff bottles and a nebulous scattering of spots on a base of lacquer hues and pop and fluorescent colours, vibrant jade green celadon, and yellow and violet surface textures.”