Helen Lee FW15, Xin Tian Di

Perennial favorite Helen Lee has officially stepped up her game by not only hosting her own fashion show way ahead of everyone else, but by also including a photography exhibition and lifestyle products to give her audience a mull holistic understanding of her brand. Although supposedly not venturing into lifestyle, Helen Lee is definitely expanding… She’s also reportedly relaunching her INSH (In Shanghai) line that she first started about a decade before.

But perhaps most notable this season was her inspiration, which although not uncommon, is still difficult to pull off. She was inspired by the Yi ethnic minority, found predominantly in China’s southwestern Yunnan province. There are many ethnic minorities in China (the government claims there are 56, although many believe there are, or at least used to be, more), and they are known for their rich culture and heritage. Their clothing is no exception: it is colorful, decorative, but most important meaningful.

Helen’s success this season was to interpret their traditions and clothing in a non-literal way. She was very subtle about her references, and definitely modernized something that hasn’t changed for some time due to its close ties with tradition. The inspiration, music, significance, and most importantly clothing was heartfelt and inspiring… But don’t just take my word for it, check it out for yourself below: