PRONOUNCE has once again pushed the boundaries of fashion with their S/S 2025 collection, “The Wild, Wild Garden,” which made a striking debut at Milan Fashion Week. Inspired by the ever-enigmatic Grace Chang, known in Chinese cinema as Ko Lan, the collection draws deeply from her famed 1960s film, “The Wild, Wild Rose.” The collection delves into themes of antagonism and romantic entanglements, reimagining Grace’s soul in a modern, gender-fluid form.
This ethereal collection juxtaposes passion and self-sacrifice, channelling the very essence of wildness and nobility. It plays out the storied life of a soul who once spurned love but eventually discovers the profound nature of self-sacrifice. Contrasts abound as ruthlessness toward a lover masks a deep-seated, sacrificial sentiment, embodying the collection’s spirit.
The Collection’s Aesthetic Language
The visual poetry of the collection is communicated through a mesmerizing blend of textures and forms. Handmade textile patchwork with a sense of rupture and the strategic exposure of skin are signature elements, suggesting love’s inherent destructiveness. Three-dimensional winding ropes, contemporary Chinese tunic suits fashioned from threaded jersey, and workwear-style fringed skirts articulate modern romance for 2024.
A Tribute to Craftsmanship
Revisiting 1980s and 1990s Chinese handcrafts, the collection showcases hand-woven insect motifs and straw weaving—a traditional Chinese folk art. These intricate designs, crafted from wild resources like cattail grass and corn husks, are painstakingly created by skilled artisans, with some pieces requiring up to 500 hours of work.
Upcycled Elegance
Sustainability takes centre stage with innovative upcycling techniques, transforming scrap fabric into sophisticated vine elements. These handmade fabric vines with their abstract beauty subtly underscore the collection’s “Wild Garden” theme. Hidden within the garments are delicate depictions of grapes, butterflies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, cicadas, and small crabs, each symbolizing the entwined, often ambiguous relationships reflected in the designs.
“The Wild, Wild Garden” invites us to embrace the journey over the destination, savouring the profound process of relationships rather than their conclusions. At Milan Fashion Week, PRONOUNCE illuminated the runway, leaving an indelible mark on the fashion world.
