DAWANG Pays Tribute to Qingdao with a Tsingtao Powered Presentation in New York

Contemporary fashion label DAWANG unveiled its Fall Winter 2024 collection on October 23. The New York-based brand partnered with China’s flagship brewery, Tsingtao, to produce an immersive fashion show that honored the city of Qingdao — the hometown of DAWANG’s founder Daisy Jingwen Wang and home base of Tsingtao.

An Ode to Qingdao

Ballet aesthetics and varsity style were at the core of DAWANG’s FW24 presentation. An ode to the Chinese city of Qingdao, the collection seamlessly fused streetwear elements with the hyperfemininity associated with ballet-inspired fashion. 

Further exploring the collection’s inspiration, DAWANG referenced the Chinese beer brand Tsingtao — recognized as an essential part of Qingdao’s history —  via custom textiles, embroideries and pops of green (Tsingtao’s signature color). The color palette also embraced various shades of pink as a nod to Qingdao’s famous cherry blossoms and red to represent the city’s tiled roofs. 

Ultimately, DAWANG delivered a lineup of looks where youth, femininity and cultural pride converged. Paneled denim pants, bodycon dresses and Y2K-infused pieces shaped a collection pertinently aligned with our current times and modern style sensibilities.

The show — part runway, part interactive presentation — allowed attendants to see the collection up close, mimicking daily life environments. After the runway, models were placed in stations, acting out activities like playing the guitar, practicing ballet or working in a fashion atelier. As EnVi’s creative director, Niamh Murphy, sums it up, DAWANG “embraced the humanity of their clothing and acknowledged the people who buy and wear their pieces.”

Partnering with Tsingtao

Wang’s tribute to her hometown, ideated by creative director Ab Li, felt particularly timely to celebrate DAWANG’s fifth anniversary.  “Our latest collection for FW24 is a celebration of our past, as people and as a brand, while also looking to the future,” shared Wang. 

“It is an honor to be able to share this story and our unique heritage by partnering with Tsingtao — a brand that has put the city of Qingdao on the global map over the past century. We hope we can continue to do the same for Chinese culture today […] shedding light on the quality and craftsmanship that comes out of the city.” To do so, every piece in the collection was designed and produced in Qingdao. Meanwhile, the presentation came to life through a partnership with Tsingtao. 

“This collaboration united Tsingtao’s rich legacy with DAWANG’s modern vision, creating a unique experience for consumers that transcends traditional boundaries,” explained Steve Hauser, CEO of Paulaner USA, which represents Tsingtao in the United States. “We’re proud to bring this dynamic fusion of fashion and beverage culture to life, especially as Tsingtao continues to thrive in the U.S. market.”

Bridging East and West

ICYIM, DAWANG is a New York-based fashion brand founded by Daisy Wang in 2018. With creative director Ab Li at the helm, the brand has grown to be recognized for bridging traditional Chinese aesthetics with Western tailoring techniques. Effortlessly cool and modern, DAWANG’s designs cater to young generations of stylish fashionistas and game-changers, eager to embrace tradition in unconventional ways.

After the New York showcase, DAWANG is heading to Los Angeles to present its Fall Winter 2024 collection at Lang, in Chinatown. DAWANG will celebrate the opening of the pop-up retail experience with a party on November 1 and then, open on December at Lang — 441 Gin Ling Way, Central Plaza, Los Angeles. 

Interested in more fashion content? Read everything about NYRAA’s celebration of South Asian fashion here.