F  L  A  U  N  T

Kim Shui has steadily built a story through her clothing, dropping a covetable wardrobe onto the world of downtown it girls who embrace her brand of luxury subversive thot wear. The styles are tailored yet provocative taking the art set from opening to the club. With her recent Spring/Summer 2020 collection she has further asserted herself building on codes which define her brand of, as she puts it best, “Ming Dynasty meets Eurotrash.” The front row reflected this with a major dose of Insta-royalty, including Rico Nasty, Kitty Cash, and Kehlani to name a few. The eclectic inspirations comes natural to the designer who is of Chinese origin, raised in Rome, Italy (not Georgia, as she jokingly mentions) before taking on New York’s Chinatown as her playground.

The collection features a brilliant color pallet which is informed by delicate pastel, and rich jewel tones. The genius is apparent in her textural play of patterns, clashing animal prints with floral china silks. The 2000’s pulsed through with cargo trousers and thigh high stockings, all merchandising that would have gotten Kimora Lee too excited. Her signature item, the reworked qipao is turned into a micro mini party dress. The brands genuine pulse and understanding of nightlife and the grand tradition of party girls is carried through to the techno soundtrack from her friend the DJ Ana B.

Her business model of embracing technologies via direct to consumer sales are a testament to the nature of the current generations “do it for the gram” buying power. This has led the young designer/business woman to be listed as part of the Forbes 30 under 30 list, as well as guide her to collaborations with Steve Madden, Urban Outfitters and recently the launch of her own Fitbit bans. The woven suede bans Shui’s explains, “Was a modern take on the friendship bracelet as our brand has been about bringing people together despite their differences.”