Yuhan Ao Lookbook
Meet three of our favourite designers and find out more about the new project that we are presenting with them.
A PROJECT THAT BRINGS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE.
We have teamed up with three designers to showcase the CHARLES & KEITH collection alongside their outstanding creations that express their unique style personalities and compelling fashion identities.
THE FEELING IN FORM
London-based designer Yuhan Ao is interested in the intersection between memory and the craft of garment-making — he sees tailoring as “not merely a technique, but as a language”. Giving form to the intangible, his AW24 collection demonstrates equal attentiveness to processes and final forms.
HAVING GROWN UP IN A LINEN TEXTILE FACTORY IN CHINA, YUHAN AO HAS ALWAYS APPRECIATED CRAFTSMANSHIP, SLOWNESS AND THE VALUE OF THINGS MADE BY HAND.
Inspired by the meditative precision of his grandmother’s technique and the composure of his mother, Yuhan Ao channelled these disciplines into his work. His collection, entitled ‘Forgotten Traces’, derives its aesthetic from the abandoned Euston Underground Station in London. In his exploration of the space, the designer was captivated by the remnants of posters found on the wall.
“I AM DEEPLY CAPTIVATED BY THIS UNIQUE SENSATION, WHICH PROMPTED ME TO DELVE FURTHER INTO THE STUDY OF THESE POSTERS. I ASPIRE TO CONVEY THE EXPERIENCE OF TIME FLOWING BACKWARDS THROUGH THEM, AS IF THE POSTERS EXHIBIT IMPRINTS OF THE PASSING YEARS.”
Translating this vision to his garments, an urban, edgy aesthetic is explored through processes of deconstruction and reconstruction in tandem. Traditional tailoring takes on relaxed forms with an undone look — crisp lines are juxtaposed with raw edges and voluminous draping. To complete the looks, the clothing was styled with the understated forms of our Bryna, Sigrid and Liv bags.
My current project explores the emotional reconstruction of garment structures. I redefine basic elements like stitch, fold and cut as personal symbols, transforming technique into a language of memory and feeling. This is a new experiment, still in development, through which I hope to reinterpret tailoring and bring something fresh to the fashion world.
We are currently preparing for our upcoming AW26 collection, which will introduce even more pieces that reflect our brand’s identity — sharper, more uncompromising explorations into garment construction. This season, we aim to push the boundaries further by revisiting the anatomy of clothing through a more angular, sometimes uncomfortable lens. At the same time, we’re looking forward to deepening our collaboration with CHARLES & KEITH, expanding this ongoing conversation around deconstruction and reconstruction into new territories.
