Recently, at the 2024 AW Shanghai Fashion Week, the main show venue, Red Court at Taipinghu Green Space in Xintiandi, unveiled the latest products from the brand OVER RANGE founded by designers from Generation Z. OVER RANGE was founded by three post-00s designers - Cao Huwan, Zuo Jianyi, and Huang Yuqiao, all graduates of the Sino-Japanese cooperative fashion design program at Donghua University. The story began on the Donghua campus, where the three young students entered the Sino-Japanese cooperative fashion and apparel design program in 2018, forming a deep friendship and embarking on the design journey together. In 2022, they participated in the New Talent Donghua Donghua New Talent Designer Competition and showcased their talent and creativity at the World Design Capital Conference in Shanghai with outstanding design works.
The brand's iconic alien image cleverly symbolizes exploration into the unknown and innovation in tradition. These designs not only demonstrate the designers' deep reflection on tradition and modernity but also reflect the school's efforts in fostering students' innovative abilities and international perspectives. The collection released this season combines traditional Chinese patterns with modern design techniques in a harmonious blend of East and West, creating a series of fashion pieces that are both retro-glamorous and mysterious.
In their junior year, they co-founded the independent designer women's wear brand OVER RANGE, showcasing extraordinary creativity and courage. At the brand's inception, GeekWonderland, a platform dedicated to supporting young Chinese designers, extended a collaborative hand to OVER RANGE through the Sino-Japanese project department's school-enterprise cooperation, providing various resources and support to further boost their rise in the fashion industry. In 2020, the brand made its debut at the Le Tiger Show at Shanghai Fashion Week, officially embarking on the journey as an independent designer brand.
Post-graduation, OVER RANGE continues to challenge themselves, with their designs becoming more mature and their style more distinct. Additionally, they initiated the Cultivation Series project, recruiting talented younger students to join, giving them the opportunity to turn their creations into actual clothing products during their time at school and sell them in the market. Some of the pieces showcased at this event are from the Cultivation Series.
DHU has always been committed to nurturing design talents with international perspectives and innovative spirits. This principle is vividly reflected in the young designer brand OVER RANGE. The school provides students with abundant practical opportunities and resource support to refine their design concepts and skills from the campus. Moreover, by actively collaborating with the industry, the school provides students with broad exhibition platforms to better showcase their talents and achievements. The Sino-Japanese cooperative fashion design program offers students a valuable opportunity to deeply understand the fashion design cultures and technologies of both countries through its unique cooperative teaching model. This cross-cultural learning experience not only equips the founders of OVER RANGE with professional design skills but also nurtures their unique aesthetic perspectives and innovative thinking. They skillfully blend tradition and modernity, East and West, creating a series of charming fashion pieces.
Photographer: Wang Zhaohui from the Fashion Week Organizing Committee
Writer: Wang Zhaohui from Fashion Week Organizing Committee
Informer: Zhang Jinshen
Editor: Gao Kun
