Words - Taj Hayer 

Photography - Nicholas Andrews

In an ever more globalised world, where the lines between what is real and what is fake feel out of synch, Xander Zhou sought to blur those lines even more with a collection that incorporated both worlds with design and technology.

Those lines being blurred turned the most mundane of menswear (jacket, shirt and trousers) of classic proportions and uncomplicated shapes into visually arresting pieces. Particularly strong were the pieces featuring faces put together by artificial intelligence, reimagined as pixelated prints. Whilst they appeared on everything from puffer jackets to underwear, they looked best on shirt which were some of the best seen so far on the autumn catwalks. The message that the faces do not exist in this world, but may exist in an alternate world is a complex one, but the clothes were simple and powerful. 

Further quantum physics theories were explored within the Multiverse collection with Zhou splitting garments and styling. Two-tone hair and alternate aye colours helped models to appear other worldly especially where full looks were also split down the middle.

Theatrics aside, in a similar vein to Edward Crutchely, taken independently, many of the catwalk pieces are actually rather wearable and would make superb additions to a wardrobe that embraces a willingness to subvert the classic lines of menswear.

Explore further at Xander Zhou.