Edison Chen's "urban ninja" designs focus on the idea of fashion circularity. Photo composite: Timberland
Hong Kong actor Edison Chen, who has long dabbled in fashion, recently released a new collaborative sustainable collection.
Created in partnership with Timberland – this new line of ready-to-wear and accessories focus on circularity, both in terms of material choices and construction methods.
The Future73 Timberloop boot for example, is specifically engineered to be recycled at the end of its life. The soles are stitched to the uppers in such a way that they can be easily disassembled at the Timberloop facility en route to a second life.
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Not only that, 50 percent of the footwear is made from premium, regeneratively farmed materials, with 70 percent of the leather upper and 55 percent of the rubber outsole sourced from farms committed to regenerative agriculture practices, helping restore our environment.
The apparel pieces follow a similar circular design philosophy, which includes the use of 100 percent mono-fibre regenerative organic cotton, removing hardware and carefully using trims that prioritise disassembly.
“Trying to figure out ways to create products more intellectually; from a perspective of loving the Earth; that not only speaks to the kids but also to the kids' kids,” reads Chen's statement in the press release.
His designs for the collection is said to be steered by an ethos wrapped in emotion and story.
The boot incorporates tiger print panels patterned with tiger stripe camo in homage to the king of the jungle. Embossed on the upper is an ancient saying, “If this exists, that exists; if this ceases to exist, that also ceases to exist.”
This teaching, with its message of mindfulness and peace, states that no single being can exist independently, acting as a common thread through the collection.
Subtle traces of the tiger camo and ancient proverb also feature on the apparel, creating synergy with the footwear.
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The Timberland x Edison Chen Future73 collection carries unconventional streetwear pieces like a kimono coat, quilted coat and hoodie wrap. They come in a military-inspired "grape leaf' colourway, which Chen describes as a wardrobe fit for an "urban ninja".
Chen has his own label called Clot. He co-founded it in 2003, focusing on the idea of "East meets West". He also draws from his interest in hip-hop culture to design edgy fashion offerings for a more cool, youthful crowd.
