IMAGERY Leah Davies
Drawing inspiration from pioneering women in boxing — including Alaia Ali, Barbara Butterick, Bridget Riley, and Jane Couch – Yuhan Wang‘s SS25 collection The Rose Fist is a skilful exploration of the interplay between strength and grace.
Wang’s ability to merge the athletic and the romantic is evident in every piece. Sporty leotards, biker shorts, and tank tops made from Chantilly lace exude a sensuality that contrasts with their practical origins, while silk tops with dramatic shoulder pads evoke the thrilling atmosphere of the boxing ring, elevated with lace trains and floral motifs.
The juxtaposition of leather boxing shorts with lace details captures the balance of resilience and femininity, pushing boundaries of traditional sportswear. With competitive activewear being traditionally designed with men and functionality as its focus, Wang does an impressive job incorporating the romance of femininity in the craft, pairing colourful protective gear with tutu skirts and waist-cinching corsets adorned by hand-drawn numbers and playful ribbons.
Drawing inspiration from the Fighting Cholitas, a group of female wrestlers from El Alto, Bolivia, the collection included exaggerated pannier skirts, crafted from lace and nylon, that swung with the same voluminous drama of the wrestlers’ skirts – a tribute to the Cholitas‘ defiance of gender norms and their celebration of feminine power in a traditionally male domain.
Sustainability also plays a role in Wang’s vision, with deadstock fabric cut-offs repurposed in the collection and transformed into mini skirts and debonair slip dresses, while the beauty looks featured doll-like red cheeks and pearly rose lips, with hairdos blending the glam of retro nostalgia with an edge of modernity.
The duality between prowess and softness continues in the 19th century-inspired footwear paired with lacy knee socks – a signature for the Chinese designer, adding mesh textures and block colour panels to lend an athletic spin to dainty court shoes and ballet flats.
A perfect marriage of Wang’s signature delicate romantic beauty and the fierce resolution of trailblazing female fighters, the collection is an ode to resilience and grace, echoing a timely and unswerving vision of womanhood.
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