Taipei Fashion Week Takes Its Cue From The Film Industry

For decades, Taiwan has told its story through the lens of cinema. From Hou Hsiao-hsien’s meditative realism and Tsai Ming-liang’s quiet urban reflections to Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning global hits, Taiwanese filmmakers have mastered the art of emotional subtlety and narrative depth. Now, a new generation of fashion designers is taking up a similar exercise: translating Taiwanese culture and global zeitgeist into a new national fashion narrative and identity.

On October 16th, Taipei Fashion Week SS26 opens under the theme “Fashion, Action!”, a deliberate bridge between the island’s booming film industry and its budding fashion design industry. The SS26 season’s campaign stars actress Ivy Shao, joined by cinematographers, set designers, and stylists reframing the fashion week as the “film in motion.” For the VIP opening show six Taiwanese designers reinterpret six acclaimed Taiwanese cinematic dramas from The Cleaner to The World Between Us II redefining the international appeal of these films as wearable fashion.

Taiwan’s creative economy thrives on the same key principles that made its cinema so influential: freedom of expression, deep local roots, and cross-disciplinary experimentation. Also add to that mix a robust democracy and personal freedoms, plus a tech-driven economy, and together they provide fertile ground for fashion designers. Supported by organizations like TAICCA and the Taiwan Ministry of Culture, this new generation of fashion designers reveals a unique potential that has long been known in the film industry: a small island’s ability to project ideas bigger than its geography.

I highlight seven Taiwanese designers that interpret Taiwanese identity through their own aesthetic lens; some see it as rebellious, others more meditative, but always original. What clearly unites these designers, and others working within Taiwan’s fashion industry, is a belief that Taiwan’s creative voice no longer seeks to compete with global centers, it is simply emerging to place itself on the global fashion map. As designer Charles Tang of Tangtsungchien put it, “Taiwan has a more recognizable voice in the world than ever before.”

Ray Chu

For Ray Chu, fashion is about representing the openness of modern Taiwan. “The modern Taiwanese person is a symbol of resilience and openness,” he says. “We’re connected to our roots yet adaptive to global influences.”

Chu’s work often draws inspiration from nature. “Our collections have taken cues from the manta ray and the crinum lily, both symbols of courage and uniqueness,” he explains. “I channel them into contemporary expressions, merging upcycled materials, 3D printing, and digital visuals.”

He sees luxury as mindfulness. “Luxury means creating something timeless and unique, made with intention and care. It’s not just about materials but about process and impact.”

Charles Tang, a Paris-trained designer based in Taichung, begins every collection with texture. “The starting point of a collection is often the textile,” he says. “Material is everything.”

Tang’s design philosophy is steeped in personal heritage. “My upbringing naturally influences my design thinking and gestures,” he explains. He sees the modern Taiwanese identity as “open-minded, humorous, and easygoing,” which he translates into silhouettes that feel effortless yet conceptually layered.

When discussing Taiwan’s creative potential, Tang is optimistic. “With supportive infrastructure, fashion weeks, and digitalization, the industry is poised for growth.”

CHOW des HOMME

Chow, founder of CHOW des HOMME, sees fashion as a mirror to society. “The modern Taiwanese person embodies a fusion of tradition and progress,” he says. “They are rooted in heritage yet open to global influences. At CHOW des HOMME, every collection starts with the pulse of our generation.”

Chow describes his design philosophy as a response to Taiwan’s resilience. “Our history is full of stories of adaptation and creativity, which align with our commitment to reflect the pulse of society.”

Few designers channel Taiwan’s duality like the traditional roots and global audacity like Damur Huang. Splitting his time between Taipei and Berlin, he embodies the cross-cultural tempo of a new generation not afraid to split their identity between Asia and Europe.

“The modern Taiwanese person should be gender-free and body-positive,” Huang says. “We should embrace adventure and feel free to express ourselves.” His collections thrive on contradiction: humor and sensuality, structure and spontaneity. “Taiwanese fashion is about being shamelessly tacky, casual, and mixing things however you want, as long as you feel cool doing it.” That irreverence conceals strategic discipline. “Growing up in Taiwan taught me to be resourceful and practical,” he notes. “We prefer playing smart over playing nice.”

Huang understands the business of fashion, “if you can’t sell your creativity, then you’ve got a serious problem.” But he sees a deeper purpose behind the commerce, “I believe I can gather talented people and make a real impact together. The most important thing in life is to do what you want, eat what you like, meet who you want, and go wherever you feel like.”

For designer Jame Hsieh, fashion is a form of quiet resistance. “Modern Taiwanese people possess a subtle resilience and softness,” she says. “They maintain individuality while embracing inclusivity. This is reflected in our designs, a blend of strength and warmth.”

“Each collection starts with an emotion or story. The key element is authenticity,” Hsieh explains. “Whether through details or overall ambiance, it must genuinely convey our philosophy.” She describes her idea of luxury as inward rather than external. “Luxury is not about expensive materials; it’s a respect for details and the transformation of design into something emotionally valuable.”

While acknowledging that Taiwanese consumers are still learning to value local design, Hsieh is hopeful: “The value of Taiwanese design is still being established, but this perception is slowly changing. I want Seivson to maintain its Taiwanese essence while reaching a global stage.”

Jenn Lee

Jenn Lee has long been a trailblazer for Taiwanese fashion on the international circuit. Her tenth-anniversary show, staged just a few weeks ago at London Fashion Week SS26, was a groundbreaking collaboration with fashion-tech pioneer Portal:M, transforming the runway into an interactive VR environment.

“The VR space allowed the audience to explore freely and experience how clothing can be reborn in a digital world,” said Lee. Her “Zipper Series” has evolved into a manifesto for hybrid design: merging craft, tech, and sustainable materials.

Lee’s approach to fashion mimics the spirit of Taiwan’s young democracy: experimental and adaptable.

Kuan Chen founded Story Wear with the belief that fashion could serve both style and society. “I wanted to prove that sustainability and design don’t have to be opposites,” she says. “They can strengthen each other.”

The label is a pioneer of up-cycled luxury, transforming post-consumer textiles into sharply constructed garments. Produced locally by women from underrepresented communities, Chen gives opportunities to those seeking to rise above the marginalization, she calls it “a circular economy with a human heartbeat.”

Every piece tells a story of transformation, from denim scraps reborn as structured jackets to discarded uniforms reinvented into tailored vests. “We’re not just giving materials a second life,” Chen adds, “we’re giving people one too.” Her collections have made Story Wear a fixture at Taipei Fashion Week and a model for what socially responsible fashion can look like when executed with purpose.

Daniel Wong

Daniel Wong’s path to design began far from Taipei’s ateliers. A graduate of Central Saint Martins and a former print designer for Versace, Wong brings a cosmopolitan eye to Taiwanese craftsmanship. His collections are instantly recognizable for their vivid, yet luxurious patterns and prints. “I’ve always believed that print is language,” Wong says. “It communicates emotion before words do.”

Since founding his namesake label, Wong has built a reputation for creating collections that appeal to an audience rooted in Asian modernity. “My work is about optimism,” he explains. “Each print is a message about courage, freedom, or curiosity, the same values that shape Taiwan today.” Wong’s growing presence in the Asian luxury market underscores how Taiwanese creativity can be commercially successful not only at home but abroad.