In his first collection since parting ways with fellow Private Policy cofounder Siying Qu, Haoran Li posed the question, “Can we be friends?”
For Li, he noted the query stemmed from the intersectionality of humanity and technology, most notably seen in the rise of artificial intelligence in the last few years.
“So many people are worried about AI and what it will do to us in the future,” he said backstage after the show. “’Will it take my job? Will it kill us?’ Who knows. So, I created a collection that fuses the core Americana themes Private Policy is known for with new techniques to bring the collection forward.”
Li highlighted his use of silicone to add texture to polka dots, reshaping piqué fabric into future preppy polos and sculpting jackets with sheer technical cloths as some of his newest innovations.
More advancements were seen in the collection’s footwear, which saw a collar-like structure added to Nike sneakers. “I used a 3D-printed collar for the shoes to add a twist to the athletic nature of the style,” Li said. “One is a combo between bunny boots and running shoes. And the other one is a running track shoe with daily running shoes. We have been developing this ‘press on’ nail for the shoe for the second season.”
But the surprise breakout star of the show came with the appearance of Baobao — a robot developed by MirrorMe Technology, a Shanghai-based company dedicated to the integration of AI and robotics. “Baobao really helped me reiterate the point of how AI, robots and humans may interact in the future,” Li added. “Hopefully we can all be friends.”
