LI-NING returns to Paris Fashion Week with a show with a wow factor

The return of Li-ning to the catwalk after a hiatus in 2020 reminded us why we missed China’s foremost sports pioneer in Paris. The show was full of dancing, rapping and a SS24 collection full of color and sportswear ready to wear on a daily basis and do it in a more chic way.

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Upon our arrival at the Pompidou Center, a large-scale cubic video installation by Chinese artist Yuan Gao greeted us over a cocktail. Just before moving on to the show venue, in the hall, The Kinjaz dancers delighted us with a short kung fu dance performance.

The Spring/Summer 2024 collection is rooted in Li-Ning’s legacy of fearless innovation and groundbreaking athletic design. The collection served as a study of the imagined archetypes of the Li-Ning man and woman. We can find the skater, the gamer, the athlete, the cool kid… A SS24 runway show that culminated with the final performance by Offset. The artist rapped his hit “Ric Flair Drip” as the models made their final carousel.

Entitled “My Verse,” Li-ning’s collection responded outstandingly to the needs of the modern era consumer. At times, the collection adopted a vintage feel with a touch of Bruce Lee. At other times, the garments suggested the raver style of the 2000s. An elevated vision of skateboarding was captured in jackets, shirts and pants with a collage of Beijing and Hong Kong cityscapes at night.

The sports giant worked a very broad color palette. Grass green and orange tones contrasted with the use of beige, navy blue or black in other garments.

In footwear, Li-Ning draws inspiration from the Metaverse. The Titan Flow inflatable slippers incorporate a futuristic motor-driven adjustable inflatable wrapping system. Yes, as you read it, the shoe includes an inflatable pump, ventilation channels, a switch and the part that inflates. In the Kungfu Yang silhouette, the past met the future. It combines the rounded shape of a traditional martial arts sneaker with a hypermodern “wavy” midsole.

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