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The new collection is all about Surrealism & traditional Chinese imagery.

the leather craftsmanship to its most creative point

The designer behind Penultimate, Xiang Gao, has already worked under Raf Simons' Calvin Klein in the past.

She spoke to us about how this experience increased her aim to explore wearable art in the context of ready-to-wear for her brand Penultimate, in an exclusive interview here.

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Art is timeless, and in this day and age when trends come and go, leather remained an iconic and consistent material throughout the years — and Penultimate is the brand that manages to mix the timelessness of its apparel-artworks and this premium material at its core.

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"Leather is like yarn, it can be crafted in so many different ways, but at the same time, leather has a totally opposite texture. I often get inspiration from stories, creatures, nature. Leather has such a strong feel, meaning, and craftsmanship behind it that is unique from other material and fabric. It totally works with the vision and elevates it." - Xiang Gao.

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Using her passion for hands-on work and craftsmanship, Gao plays with the leather possibilities, putting them all together to transmit her free way of creating and telling stories through her designs.

In an interview, the designer told us that

"After living in New York for 6 years, I have decided to move back to China. So next season will be the first collection after I move back. It will be designed and produced with my new atelier in China. I’m very excited about the change, looking forward to new possibilities and vibe."

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And like that, the Penultimate Spring 2021 collection was born and released during Shanghai Fashion Week, where Xiang Gao found herself contemplating a return to a more vibrant past for her fourth season.

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Owing to the great influence of artists from the '70s like Kaisik Wong, she landed on the Rothschild Surrealist Ball of 1972 in honor of Salvador Dalí, whose individualism resonated with her.

Leather remained an iconic and consistent material throughout the years and has been immortalized in timeless artsy clothing like these pieces, resulting in designs that blend concepts of Surrealism with the traditional Chinese imagery that has always guided the label.

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Read our full interview here, and don't forget to check more [metcha originals] content.

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