Paris Fashion Week: How Miao culture inspired Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection
Each season, Wang Chen Tsai-Hsia—otherwise known as Madame Wang—looks to her Asian heritage as the starting point for her east-meets-west collections as the founder and designer of Taiwanese label Shiatzy Chen. While the past two showcases saw her designs take inspiration from the traditional art of Chinese calligraphy, Wang looked to China’s diverse diaspora in autumn-winter 2025. Notably, one ethnic community stood out: the Miao people.
Forming one of the largest ethnic minorities in Southwest China, the Miao communities continue to practice a rich culture in the traditional arts and crafts. Comprising of five separate communities that are concentrated in the Guizhou province, the ethnic group are well known for their garment-making techniques such as batik, a special fabric dyeing process that uses wax, that leverages indigo plants. Wang, however, put a spotlight on the communities’ added expertise in embroidery—a practice that just so happens to be a signature for Shiatzy Chen as well.
At the brand’s autumn-winter 2025 show venue at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, ten distinct forms of Miao embroidery were exhibited on digital screens. The front row was filled with support by Asian luminaries such as Taiwanese actors Kelly Lin and Ouyang Didi.
Tatler tells you what went down at Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 showcase at Paris Fashion Week.
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Dazzling front row
Backdropped by digital screens depicting ten types of Miao embroidery, Kelly Lin radiated in a satin jumpsuit with a charming butterfly knot detail from the Shiatzy Chen resort 2025 collection.
The Taiwanese actor shared her first thoughts on the autumn-winter 2025 show with Tatler.
Heritage embroidery
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
This may surprise you: the Miao do not have a written language. Embroidery, as a result, has emerged as a way for the communities to document their history, legends and personal stories on materials such as silk and cotton.
For the Shiatzy Chen autumn-winter 2025 collection, Wang collaborated with seven artisans to experiment with ten types of Miao embroidery. This technique was sprinkled across an array of east-meets-west silhouettes. Think embroidered animals, plants and mystical creatures on Mandarin collared blouses, contemporary qipao, tailored long coats and floor-sweeping gowns.
Colours of the community
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Not all Miao communities express themselves the same way. Notably, the distinct shades of their art and garments are a key point of differentiation. Wang made this attribute of the ethnic group known through the chosen colour palette of the Shiatzy Chen autumn-winter 2025 collection.
On a foundation of platinum, pink and cerulean, the Miao culture was reflected in an embrace of white, black, red and blue.
Traditional pleated silhouettes
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
The Miao people are also distinct for the silhouettes of their handmade cultural garments. Pleated skirts for women are a key example. According to some experts in Miao clothing, the straight lines created by folding the fabric onto itself could symbolise rivers.
Wang put her contemporary spin on this core part of Miao dress. Pleats in various lengths and materials were spotted across her autumn-winter 2025 collection. Along with more direct calls to the ethnic group’s traditional pleated skirts, the designer also experimented by adding pleated hems to men’s trousers. Inclusions of beads, tassels and bells were other nods to the Miao people.
Accessories to match
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Shiatzy Chen’s autumn-winter 2025 collection (Photo: Shiatzy Chen)
Wang did not forget to infuse her seasonal inspiration into accessories.
Notably, the designer elevated ten of Shiatzy Chen’s classic handbags with the same Miao embroidery that was spread across her ready-to-wear designs. From top handles to chain bags, each were hand-stitched with vibrant ethnic motifs.
Our eyes also gravitated to the collection’s silver accessories. According to Wang, the series of necklaces and waist chains depict Miao talismanic symbols like the sun, butterflies, feathers and dragons.
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