Baai-san means "to pray” in Cantonese. The collection pays tribute to Chet Lo's roots, and his childhood memories indulged in Buddhism.
A main source of inspiration for this collection is a Buddhist tale that takes place on the night of Buddha’s enlightenment. Mara, the goddess of death, releases a sea of arrows towards Buddha, but as they near him, the weapons fall at his feet and transmute into flowers.
For SS23, Chet Lo plays with the illusion of perspectives, seen in the floral print, which up close appears to be a striped pattern, but the further you veer, the flowers are revealed; this technique was heavily inspired by Dutch graphic designer Karel Martens. A similar play on perspectives is seen with some of the knitwear pieces, which up close look like diamonds and from a distance appear as bubbles. A collection stooped in multidimensionality, typically utility-wear is shown alongside grandiosity. The designer debuts denim provided by ISKO this season, which via direct screen printing, achieves a distressed effect, as well as showcasing resplendent gowns engulfed in embroidery and lotus-inspired 3D plastic flowers. The latter, taking a step towards Chet’s previous creations, who at Central Saint Martins, was known more for his classic, elegant fashioning rather than the futuristic aesthetic we have come to associate with Chet Lo.
For this season, Chet really wanted an immersive experience for the show and has transformed the aromas of the space to match those of the temples of his youth. Clear vases filled with coloured powder encase the incense, representing a modern twist on incense vases used to pay respects to the gods. This season, Chet Lo’s partnership with Nothing is a celebration of the shared principles that guide both emerging brands - innovation, passion and instinct. Nothing and Chet Lo each break down traditions in their respective industries, and create something fresh in its place.
Chet Lo is an Asian American designer and 2020 graduate of Central Saint Martins BA Knitwear course. Hailing from New York City, Lo first came to London in 2015 to attend Saint Martin’s. It was there that Lo became fascinated with textiles and the endless possibilities and innovation that knitwear could bring.
