Attention to body positivity and – to a lesser extent – body neutrality has been growing over the past couple of years, but it’s been a central tenet for Chinese designer Chen Peng and his six-year-old eponymous label since Day One.
Oversized puffer coats with playful shapes (think less Michelin Man, more snow fairy) are a signature – one that he terms “one-sized fashion”.
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“Fashion egalitarianism is very important to my brand,” says Chen, who took up a master’s degree in Menswear Fashion Design Technology at London College of Fashion, then clocked time at Dior and Gareth Pugh before striking out on his own.
Chen Peng is the brainchild behind the eponymous fashion brand celebrating the creative expression of body neutrality.
A large-sized friend who had problems buying clothes led him to research on how a designer could adapt to various body types and abolish traditional size boundaries.
The approach is paying off: Chen counts Rihanna, Bella Hadid and Lady Gaga among his many fans, and is stocked at some of the most discerning retailers globally, including Dover Street Market, Ssense, L’Eclaireur and Joyce.
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In April this year, he also picked up the inaugural Yu Prize during Shanghai Fashion Week, which recognises rising Chinese talents.
His plans ahead are similarly geared towards appealing to as diverse a customer base as possible – the launch of a sub-line that caters to more demographics (kids and fitness types included) at more accessible prices.
