Ray Chu SS27: A New Language of Pleasure.
Taiwanese brand Ray Chu presented their SS27 ‘Fans Only Club’ collection at LFW. The show was an homage to Summer, inspired by the Sambucus flower; quiet, white, floral prints feature heavily in his pieces. The clothes were lightweight, and ranged from flowy to structured pieces, in a mix of neutral and vibrant colours. This encapsulates the show’s goal to portray strength through clothing, just as the Sambucus flower will always continue to bloom.
However, floral prints were not the sole feature of the show. Chu’s Taiwan Banana Club Print reinforces the love for heritage at the heart of his pieces. The print features a bunch of fruit, native to Taiwan, to reimagine the nostalgia he associates them with. The contrast of the yellow bananas with the cool pastels of the clothes, embodies the warmth of the clothing in both his collection, and his home which he sought to celebrate.
Chu’s clothing is a spectrum. Although some pieces were quiet, bright tones added a certain loudness to the collection. Tailoring thus played a key role in emphasising this feeling. Bright, structured suits with ties embellished with crystals featured in the show, alongside bright red jackets embellished with lace details. The depth of these pieces, juxtaposed by more coquette, dainty details, reinforces the idea of strength at the heart of Chu’s collection, and the brand as a whole.
Nancy Collaboration
Within society, female pleasure has always been a taboo topic. From orgasms to the use of sex toys, women have been taught to feel ashamed when discussing these things openly.
Enter Ray Chu, a brand that premiered at Shanghai Fashion Week FW17, dedicated to embodying self-love and freedom. So, for their London Fashion Week SS27 collection, it was no surprise that they decided to partner with Hello Nancy, whose philosophy is centred around challenging these societal perceptions: “At Nancy, we're committed to breaking the taboo and creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone to explore their sexual curiosities.” The collaboration felt like a natural extension of Ray Chu’s ethos, bringing together fashion and sexual expression to challenge the conventions surrounding female pleasure. Rather than treating sexuality as something to be concealed, the collection embraces it as a form of freedom, encouraging women to reclaim intimacy, confidence and pleasure on their own terms.
Allowing the models to not only showcase the designs but also feature the sex toys adds an element of fun to a topic that is so often treated as secretive. By gifting the audience with free sex toys, the collaboration further reinforces its commitment to breaking down the idea that pleasure is taboo and should remain unspoken. In doing so, Ray Chu and Hello Nancy open up a wider conversation around female pleasure, challenging the boundaries between fashion, self-expression and intimacy. By creating an interesting discourse that, hopefully, will encourage a more open conversation surrounding female pleasure within wider society.
Images courtesy of Claudia Limeverde Costa and Katie Sweeney.
Edited by Katie Sweeney, Co-fashion Editor.
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