Yu Mei NZFW 2019. Image by Getty Images.
Wellington-based brand Yu Mei brought it’s effortlessly chic A-game to NZFW, showcasing their Autumn 2020’s leather goods collection. In true Yu Mei style, the pieces were contemporary, covetable and provided sleek solutions to the everyday luggage needs of modern women.
A harbourside dwelling served as the perfect sunshine-filled backdrop for Yu Mei’s showcase, as arrangements of their latest bags and small leather goods were dotted on pedestals around the rustic breakfast dining space.
Inspired by the iconic and unique Chateau Marmont, this collection saw a dash of je-ne-sais quoi added to the Yu Mei’s sleek look. Earthy tones of emerald and lime green made for a refreshing focal colours in the collection, alongside classic Yu Mei’s classic ‘shortbread’ beige, brown and black. Punctuated with fine yet present golden zips, clasps and hardware, this palette set the tone for an avant-garde yet effortlessly chic aesthetic.
From the statement Phoebe bucket bucket bag through to the structured Rebecca side bag — the collection showcased a myriad of versatile, contemporary pieces designed with the modern woman in mind. In keeping with Yu Mei’s legacy of designing pieces rooted in luxurious practicality, designer Jessie Wong ensures each item is named after the women who influenced the practicality and design of each of these pieces.
A hot new addition to this year’s lineup was the Millie bag — a petite, leather-handled bag with gussets angling out from a simple square panel that was available in brown, shortbread and lime. Unique in silhouette — yet refreshingly reminiscent of a small, minimalist Celine luggage bag — this style is Yu Mei’s unique answer to the shrunken bag trend and as well as the avante-garde silhouettes that have had a stronghold over the leather-good scene.
Other covetable classics that have been treated to this collection’s splashes of green are the Brady bag, the microsized Luci bag and the Italian embossed crocodile leather -clad Suki clutches, which featured a pop of colourful suede strands across the top.
Embracing new colour palettes and avant-garde styles alongside the brand’s much-loved pieces worked a treat for Yu Mei’s Autumn 2020 collection. Adventurous colour choices, bold new silhouettes, and fresh renditions of classic pieces have culminated yet another stellar collection that celebrates modern femininity.
Images by Getty Images.