CHOCHENG Spring Summer 2020: New York Fashion Week
Chocheng 2020
Words by Joseph Benjamin
Chocheng 2020
Fashion week is such a creative and inspirational time here at Reverie, we enjoy the excitement and vivacity this time of year brings to our team. Our collective had the opportunity to strut our stuff at some of the biggest show this season. Fashion week started with a bang! Cho Cho Cheng showcased his new collection for his womenswear brand, CHOCHENG. The collection is a testament to the late Victorian style that has been reemerging over the last few years. Cho decided to take us back to early 1900 with a headdress that resembled the time of the Puritans, with an exciting take on pastel colors that added to the feminity of this collection.
Sustainability is a must for us, this entire collection is handmade from natural materials, and sustainable European fabrics, another trademark of the brand. Remember the handmade Scottish cashmere tweed jackets and coats he released a few years ago? All made from raw-renewable material. His pleated and A-symmetrical cut dress dominated the runway, a fascinating choice this season. An interesting detail is Cho wanted to showcase the simplicity of feminity while playing with the idea of innocence. Cho did this by adding tones of pink, Candy stripes and monochrome and of course the coral red which added value and definition to the collection.
“All garments are handcrafted in my London atelier and are made from 100 percent natural materials. Harris tweed from Scotland and Donegal tweed from Ireland are two of my favorite materials, and cotton velvet is perfect for evening wear. I check the fabrics myself to make sure they are 100 percent natural. Choices are limited as a natural material is expensive and not that many manufacturers make it. I usually focus on old heritage mills, and I always choose fabrics with red undertones because it is the most flattering for the skin. I only use material in Europe to minimize my carbon footprint.
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Chocheng 2020
Chocheng 2020
The collection is string on day looks, which includes oversized wood-framed sunglasses and high platform espadrilles from Spain and straw bags that added an element of summer.
CHOCHENG is a womenswear designer label launched by designer Cho Cho Cheng. Cheng studied fashion and costume design at the Parsons School of Design and took an apprenticeship in Savile Row, London to study traditional British tailoring. The first CHOCHENG store opened in 2010 at 838 Madison Avenue, New York. A second CHOCHENG store followed in 2015 at Seasons Place, Beijing. In Spring 2019, the new CHOCHENG flagship store will open at the prestigious 781 Fifth Avenue, New York.
CHOCHENG pays close attention to detail and uses only materials that are 100% natural and cruelty-free. All fabrics are sustainable and produced in Europe. All garments are hand-sewn in London following traditional Savile Row tailoring techniques. For both environmental and aesthetic reasons, CHOCHENG forbids the use of commercial iron-on interfacing and machine finishing. Incorporating Savile Row hand sewing techniques, everything from the shoulder pads, embroidered buttons, inseam buttonholes to decorative silk petals are handmade from natural materials. Jackets and coats are half lined in the manner of traditional sports jackets allowing customers to see all padding, stiffening, basting, binding, and interfacing are done by hand. Woven garments are manufactured in London, while knitwear and accessories are made in Italy.
CHOCHENG has become synonymous with 100% natural materials and a whimsical interpretation of traditional British tailoring.
CHOCHENG caters to a discerning clientele who appreciates comfort, craftsmanship, and conservation of the environment.
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