Knitwear PH5: Bouncy Chinese Brand

IN THE WEEKLY RUBRIC "NEW MARK" we present young designers and tell them where and why to buy their things. Our heroines this week are Wei Lin and Mezhiya Chang, the founders of the PH5 knitwear and knitwear, which debuted at New York Fashion Week.

The times when Chinese production was talked about with disdain have forever sunk into oblivion. Absolutely everyone now uses Chinese materials and factories - from luxury conglomerates and mass market giants to small niche companies (including Russian ones). Young designer Wei Lin was lucky in this sense - her family owned a small Chinese garment factory for thirty years, and this allows you to control all stages of production from sketches to finished products. That is why the brand can afford a moderate pricing policy: things cost retail from $ 150.

The history of PH5 began in 2014, when two flatmates — Wei Lin and Mezhiya Chang — decided to join forces and create a new brand, unlike the rest, and occupy an empty niche. “Knitwear and knitwear often look very similar, but now they are expensive too. Our things are made using new technologies and look catchy,” explains Wei Lin. Indeed, it is difficult not to notice that luxury brands, whose DNA is directly related to knitwear, are going through hard times. The emergence of newcomers who could bring new breath to this niche was expected. Well-tailored overalls, colored turtlenecks, skirts and dresses, inspired by works with the clouds of the Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde, look unsweetened and interesting.

The debut at New York Fashion Week is explained simply: the girls are focused on sales in the States, because they believe that it is there that most appreciate comfortable semi-sports clothing and are “indifferent to bandage dresses. The collection of the next season also consists of 90% knitted items. They look so thoughtful that most of them can be put on with plus 30. After the presentation of the brand, WWD and vogue.com were deservedly written. I wonder in what direction PH5 will develop further and whether it will be able to stand in a row with classics of the genre like Missoni.

I love practical things that are comfortable to move around in. Most of all I like modern sports style, which absolutely does not have to be opposed to femininity. For me, clothing is a way to show a person’s identity. Due to the fact that my family owns the production for thirty years, serving European and American brands, the quality of our things is very high. We employ highly professional designers with a sharp look and excellent taste. We can make crazy kits that will be practical and appropriate for every day.