Chinese fashion designer Rui Zhou kicked off the fall season with a new nickname: Rui Built.
In addition to addressing a trademark concern, she told WWD it was her way of symbolizing her effort to reconstruct (pun intended) the stereotype of the female body through intricate weaves, but also introduce a wider range, particularly styles less revealing for those not yet ready to put it on. themselves completely on display.
For them, Zhou offered knit ensembles that skimmed the body without constricting it, offering flashes of skin through ladders that played on her body-positive ethos. Even easier ways to immerse yourself in Rui Built's aesthetic were cropped knit tops and a relaxed jersey set enlivened by contrasting raised stitching modeled after the net-like patterns of her inventive knitting technique.
Of course, there were plenty for early fans, including the likes of Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion and Blackpink's Jennie, in new variations on their signature skintight knit outfits.
Her concern for practicality was also seen in her second collaboration with Adidas, included in its fall 2024 line. She proposed cut-out undergarments made of stretch fabric and rubber sandals shaped like a ballet slipper.
“Last season I worked with the Adidas training line. This time it is with the brand's main sportswear line. I was inspired by pole dancing and jazz performance. Therefore, the pieces can adapt to the large body movements often seen in these dance routines,” Zhou said.
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