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Memorializing the designer’s birthplace in Southwest China with an unmatched runway packed with vibrancy and cultural flair.
Chinese label MITHRIDATE has officially entered the London Fashion Week schedule, hosting its first confirmed program with an impactful celebration of its Asian roots. Memorializing her birthplace in Southwest China, creative director Demon Zhang nods to the province’s vibrant artistic background, building her own “Flower Kingdom” on the runway.
For Spring/Summer 2025, MITHRIDATE blooms in bold primary hues, taking inspiration from Yunnan’s city-wide flower trading business. Thousands of spherical pom-poms drown the collection vibrantly, representing the brand’s appreciation for alfresco nature. Zhang holds up a mirror to her community while honoring her family traditions through striking prints, patterns, and embroidery techniques.
The opening look showed MITHRIDATE’s new-found maturity, creating boxy silhouettes with beaded floral ornamentation. The collection came packed with texture, previewed on ruffled formalwear with integrated sheer windows. Structured fringed dresses reimagine traditional Chinese formalwear with lace paneling, while capped gowns, spherical attachments, and butterfly graphics reflect MITHRIDATE’s spirited seasonal presence. The brand’s signature tie-dye patterns reigned supreme for SS25, dipping enflamed bomber jackets, gashed tops, and ringed suiting into melding pink, purple, red, and orange hues.
Take a closer look at MITHRIDATE’s SS25 collection in the gallery above, and stay tuned for more London Fashion Week content on Hypebeast.
Sep 16, 2024
The collection was packed with cultural flair, setting a delicate stage at North-West London’s St Cyprian’s Church.
Chinese-born designer Demon Zhang consistently rebels in masterful craftsmanship, building MITHRIDATE on pillars of innovation, sustainability, and supreme quality. MITHRIDATE set a relaxing stage for its London Fashion Week showcase, guiding guests to the outdoor gardens of St Cyprian’s Church.
London’s unmistakable sunny skies were packed with calming music and soothing scents, priming its viewers for a marvelous spectacle. Zhang’s Asian heritage was apparent in every look dipped in delicate teal hues. The Spring/Summer 2024 collection was intricate in nature, using fragile fabrics that blew against the wind. Men and women walked around expertly staged grasslands in ornamented garments that oozed with East Asian flair, overwhelmed by cultural jewelry that rattled at every step.
Asymmetrical shirting was frayed at the edges, paired with shimmering bottoms that reflected the beaming sun. Illustrative florals bloomed on lightweight dresses and gold-trimmed tunics, while paint-splattered boiler suits donned tassled chains and embroidered decor. Handmade lace co-ords revealed the skin beneath, followed by enlarged coats with a royal breeze. The previous dragged against bare ground with pastel-colored ruffled tule, contrasted by dim-lit versions with angelic feathers. Denim ensembles came bleached and destroyed, completing the collection with a sensibly rebellious feel.
Take a closer look at MITHRDIATE’s SS24 collection in the gallery above, and stay tuned for more London Fashion Week content on Hypebeast.
In other fashion week news, Stefan Cooke Dives Into the Deep Blue Sea for SS24.
Sep 15, 2023
This season's London Fashion Week was nothing short of spectacular. Aside from a very exciting 40th year anniversary. The bi-yearly occasion that brings the fashion set to London delivered a handful of must-see moments, celeb front-row inspiration, and a handful of merited debuts within the official schedule.
One specific brand that held its calendar debut is luxury pioneer Mithridate, which has Central Saint Martins alumni Demon Zhang as its creative director. Zhang has strong design prowess and impressive experience, having previously assisted Lee McQueen and John Galliano.
This season, Zhang turned to her native China as the source of inspiration for the brand's Spring/Summer 2025 collection, nodding to her hometown, Yunnan, known for its breathtaking landscapes filled with vibrant diversity and rich cultural traditions.
Commonly known as the 'Flower Kingdom,' it was only fitting that the collection showcased these motifs in the form of expertly executed beaded dresses, cape gowns, headpieces, and exquisitely reimagined Chinese traditional formalwear, some of which took inspiration from the region's distinctive silverware and traditional tie-dying methods.
2021年4月12日，mithworld在上海时装周发布2021秋冬系列，以注入当下流行的经典元素、奇趣横生的动物印花及大胆优雅的拼接风格承载着对女性无限可能性的探索，不断融合女性内心世界与现实外在，借由时装自由阐释甜酷个性，打破传统固有认知，奔赴向往之境。
By 施虹发布时间: Apr 16, 2021
mithworld AW 2021
在静谧的黑暗中，乐章开始响起，一场“影子游戏”即将拉开帷幕。这场关于影子的游戏，不是简单对轮廓形象的描述和结构变化的展示，而是探寻女性内心多种变化身份的对话。
mithworld集结多名不同风格的女性，在忽明忽暗的视线里，她们迎面而来。她们时而展示既跨越时间又日常百搭的怪趣造型，时而为经典格纹元素重赋新生，演绎经典新潮，时而织就梦幻甜美的梦境，释放甜蜜心机，多样变化风格一次次刷新大众对女性的认知。不同凡响的美学理念，演绎独具匠心的设计作品，时装重申不拘一格的同时，现场运用了趣味的【光影技术】，由mithworld设计的“小恶魔”影子形象随着不断变化的灯光和敲打心弦的快节奏音乐，作为mithworld女性内心的映像投射，跟随着行走的步伐不断闪现。动人的光影技巧切分不同维度空间，每个维度空间彼此夹杂且包含，一面是基于现实世界和当下角色设定的表象外在，一面是以独特视角诠释而出的内心自我表达，影像投射正是在理解女性真正自我的细微层面以及广阔无边。从维度空间到时装语言，让女性与自我对话，与时装交流，实现不断变化的连接与互动，使整个空间递进出丰富的层次感，打通了内在与外在的界线。
创意总监Demon着眼于诠释女性不同个性，以流畅温婉的线条，集温柔与力量之美于一体，在勾描和色彩之中，在写实与写意之间，演变出无数的设计变化。本季的秀场上，可爱的动物元素以不同形式相继出现，被注入灵魂的动物穿梭在花丛印花中。繁花揭开序幕时，以极富女性韵味的浪漫表达释放喜悦信号。狐狸和兔子在丛林中互相追逐玩耍，变化之间暗藏妙趣活力，以繁复图腾赋予时装奇幻趣意，动静之间营造女性灵气的一面，恬静之中带有跃动，甜美之间也能酷帅。蜜蜂停留在花卉之上，以经典的格纹元素为背景相映成趣，不动声色的印花图案坠入危险又迷人的梦境空间，修饰身形的剪裁，勾勒着女性对自由的无限向往。
她们延续经典，重赋新生。线条纵横交错，色彩重新组合，mithworld从英国格纹中汲取源源不断的灵感，不止步于经典款式，摆脱传统的拘谨，任由方格在时装之上嵌套交叠，从小块组合、大面积运用、多色并存，通过格纹不断的变化创造出无限可能性，在高级面料质感之上增添无限趣味。
mithworld力求展现英伦复古美学，让幻想与灵感再度出发。跳脱单一的面料铺垫，将不同面料重新排列组合，复古嬉皮拼接通过趣味巧思和玩味手法出现于时装之上，重现经典的同时，焕发全新活力。富有文化内涵的印花元素加上当下流行时尚的设计，组合成酷感又甜美的单品。女性，不再被设定。
在由内向外诠释女性美丽映像的同时，mithworld不断关注着疫后时代的变化。虽然世界本身尚未颠覆，但人类社会似乎脱离了过往正常的轨道，生活在一个与以前不同的现状中。周遭的一切熟悉又陌生，大部分人的相处模式开始悄然变化，“保持社交距离”并不是造成隔阂，而是对彼此健康安全的保护。科技则填补了这种社交距离的空白，不断弥补生活中的不便利性。对此，mithworld采用多种新型环保材料，不断重新认知和调整人与自然之间的关系。对于mithworld来说，新环保不是一种转瞬即逝的流行趋势，而是一种可持续的发展要求。人们通过服装来展现自我，但无需因追求环保而牺牲自身风格，mithworld将环保与可持续理念注入时装中，在秉持环保主义的同时呈现穿衣者的自我姿态。
创意总监Demon在本季运用了“超现实”的新科技面料承载奇思妙想。在豌豆花丛印花中植入玫瑰植物纤维，通过轻柔摩擦或人体温度，让穿衣者穿越到真实的花丛中，拉近人与自然间的距离，定格一瞬，花香弥散。
此外，mithworld对时装施以魔法幻术，采用可持续环保材料和制作工艺结合，特殊涂料让一件时装不再是唯一的表达，它可以在室内室外呈现两副不同的样貌。在室内肆意倾泻少女甜美感的粉红配色，走入阳光之下，藏匿的紫色慢慢显现，甜美少女将演绎酷感的另一面。创意总监Demon通过这种形式呈现女性可酷可甜的多变个性，也将对人与自然的思考寄托在其之上。大自然馈赠的蓝天白云印花在紫外线影响下流动变化，讲述疫情封锁之下人类对大自然的向往，赋予时装感知的力量。mithworld也运用特殊涂料设计出作为上海时装周特别版，传递品牌对后疫情时代的思考。
值得一提，本次服饰全部材质尽可能采用国内自主研发的素材和工艺，无论是玫瑰植物纤维还独树一帜的光感与温感面料，这一系列技术都源于国内研发为主。颠覆以往的服饰面料认知，为大众带来一场全新视觉与感官的时尚印象 – 中国制造已成为世界品质的象征。
mithworld秉持着“向外寻觅，向内探索”的理念，不断塑造多面的女性映像，在未来，mithworld也将承载女性美丽力量，驶向远方。
Vibrant accents, silverware, and ancient techniques — styled by Harry Lambert, Mithridate’s LFW SS25 show is a stunning tribute to Yunnan, the southwestern province of China.
This London Fashion Week, Chinese fashion house Mithridate debuted its first collection since joining the event’s official schedule. To mark such a significant milestone, Creative Director Demon Zhang delivered a deeply personal tribute to heritage, roots, and home. Mithridate’s newest collection honours Yunnan, a southwestern Chinese province renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant ethnic diversity, and rich cultural traditions.
Known as the “Flower Kingdom” and the second-largest flower trading hub globally, the province’s essence blossomed as the foundation of the collection. Taking over London’s Somerset House, Mithridate’s SS25 presentation was a colourful explosion of vibrant hues, paying homage to ancient techniques through premium textures. Lace, denim, silk, and leather were adorned with maximalist silverware embellishments, pom-poms, and the region’s traditional tie-dyeing techniques — from classic tailored cuts to sheer dresses, skin-tight corsets, and playful co-ords. Take a closer look…
‘The culture of my hometown is like a treasure trove of inspiration’: Demon Zhang On MITHRIDATE SS25
5 months ago
This season we head to Yunnan, aka 'The Flower Kingdom' of China
MITHRIDATE’s Creative Director Demon Zhang doesn’t do anything by halves. The designer, known for her bold palette of colours, textures and shapes, successfully lights up the London Fashion Week runway each season with her passion-driven collections. And this season, with her show added to the event’s official schedule for the first time, Demon is ready to fuel this energy into collection connected to her roots. ‘The inspiration comes from my hometown, Yunnan, China, and my childhood memories,’ the designer tells us ahead of her show. ‘For me, the culture of my hometown is like a treasure trove of inspiration.’ Here’s how she brough her vision to life with MITHRIDATE’s SS25 runway show.
TOAST TO PARIS: Mithridate, the Guangzhou-based fashion label that has been showing in London off schedule, took on Paris on Tuesday night with a cozy dinner at the Bastille Design Center to commemorate its inaugural capsule collaboration with the Florentine luxury retailer LuisaViaRoma.
Attendees included “Gossip Girl” star Kelly Rutherford, who has been declaring herself a fan of the Chinese label since she attended the brand’s fall 2024 show alongside “All of Us Strangers” lead Andrew Scott, enjoyed a poetic harp performance before sitting down.
“Mithridate has been an incredible discovery. I’m glad it’s really growing and expanding here. The brand is very magical,” said Rutherford, who wore a modernized asymmetrical Qipao in black.
Demon Zhang is a creative force to be reckoned with. After spending her formative years as a future designer in London’s Central Saint Martins – fashion’s melting pot and the birthplace to globally recognised names such as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and John Galliano – she followed in their footsteps and established her own independent brand back home in China.
Her designs explore the balance between intricate craftsmanship and the accessibility of ready-to-wear. Her eponymous brand, Mithridate, is full of mystery and magic. Named after the King who discovered a cure to fight all poisons, Zhang wants to provide a cure for women who are continually exploring their identity through fashion.
After a mesmerizingly grand debut performance event earlier this year during LFW AW20, which took place at the Medieval & Renaissance Gallery of the V&A where the creative inception of her collection took place, Demon managed to find a few moments to chat to Teeth Editor Desislava Todorova about her creative process.
“This time, I wanted to express a story of pushing boundaries.“
As a Fashion Print graduate at the illustrious Central Saint Martins and former assistant to fashion legends Lee Alexander McQueen and John Galliano, there aren’t many with as much valuable, in-field experience as Demon Zhang. The Chinese designer would go on to start their own label MITHRIDATE in Guangzhou, China and debut at London Fashion Week for the AW20 season, just over three years ago.
The name and brand are centred around the metaphor of the mystical elixir created by King Mithridates VI that cures all toxins and poison as Zhang searches to create the antidote for individuals that are constantly searching for their identity through fashion. By making their pieces gender-neutral, MITHRIDATE encourages individualism and expression in dress as the label strives to provide clothing that makes the wearer feel free from all inhibitions, embracing the creativity, personality and storytelling instilled into each collection.
Whether you look at the nature-inspired, “The Mirror Room” Spring/Summer 2022 collection or the latest aviator-style Autumn/Winter 2023 collection, a common theme amongst their work is the ethereal, fantastical undertone that their clothing holds thanks to the cohesive nature of the garments. The capsules feel grand and cinematic, reluctantly waiting to tell a tale of the concept alongside the intricate tailoring and showstopping accessories.
Join us as we discuss wearable technology, their inspirations and the design process for this collection.