The Tamesis
For William Fan, one of the pillars of Berlin Fashion Week, rich textiles play an important role. Fan is known beyond the city for his timeless designs that play with gender boundaries, style and Chinese culture. Fanfan is a layered fanfan. He proved this in his silhouettes, which have remained consistently wearable and layered over the years, only now they’ve become almost aristocratic, with triple-layered collars, scarves, draped sleeves, pearl trim and very rich materials. While many of the staples — flattering shirts, wide trousers, chunky jackets — remained, he supplemented them with down jackets, lined ponchos, leather separates and faux fur elements that proved popular with customers, who braved the persistent cold snap to attend his shows.
Some of these friends and fans even appeared at fashion shows that used his store as a visual model. Fan often chooses to involve his community in the creation and presentation of his fashions. He named his new line “Ring the Bell,” a reference to his entrepreneurial journey, when he invested in a brick-and-mortar retail space in his backyard. Following the principle of “if you know it, you know it,” he welcomes visitors who in turn shape the look of his designs. “We’re not one type of customer, we have many customers,” Fan said as he walked backstage with the cast minutes before the show began. “We all come in different ages, genders, body types and styles. There are literally so many layers here.”
