8ON8‘s Autumn/Winter 2024 collection, titled ‘The Gourd Winter Concert,’ is a vivid narrative that unfolds through clothing and visual language. Designer Gong Li takes the audience on a journey with retired musicians as they embark on a wintry expedition to a snow-covered mountain peak for a final, timeless performance.
The collection’s narrative is deeply connected to music, with characters carrying oversized gourd-shaped instruments as they transition from a city setting to a natural, mountainous landscape. This fusion of urban and outdoor elements results in a dramatic silhouette that combines retro aesthetics with a futuristic touch.
Key elements of the collection include signature blazers and wool coats that undergo creative transformations, such as flipped hems revealing unexpected styling possibilities and functional pockets integrated into nylon down jackets. The incorporation of outdoor-inspired details contrasts with the use of magic tape-inspired elements and embroidered perforations in floral patterns.
One of the standout features of this collection is the use of gradient velvet flocking and particle flocking techniques, meticulously handcrafted to create a scattered snowflake effect that defies traditional flocking techniques. Mountain-style camouflage patterns add vibrancy and are applied to trousers and incorporated into a reverse inlay flower technique on a sweater.
The collection also pays homage to the retired musicians with cracked plaster prints and knitwear pieces blending suede and coarse yarn, evoking memories of their campfire gatherings and musical performances from years past.
