Last month, & Other Stories launched a remarkable co-lab collection with Susan Fang, the celebrated fashion designer known for her nature-inspired, fantastical creations and innovative design techniques. The co-lab is characterized by distinctive Susan Fang signatures: laser-cut flower petals, unique prints, crochet pieces, and delicate broderie anglaise. The collection also introduces new dimensions to Susan Fang’s design, with finishing touches like beaded “water drops” adding an extra layer of surreal sophistication.

Since the launch of her label in 2017, Susan Fang’s contributions to the fashion landscape have garnered well-deserved acclaim. She has been included in the influential BoF 500 class of 2023, recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 for both 2019 and 2020, her unique design sensibility earned her a coveted spot on the shortlist for the prestigious LVMH Prize.

Having spent her childhood across China, Canada, the United States, and the UK, Susan Fang’s diverse experiences have shaped her perspective on fashion as a language transcending cultural boundaries. Her brand is committed to breaking new ground in textile innovation and promoting innovative practices in design and production.

We got to ask her some of our most pressing questions to learn more about her process, inspiration and this collaboration collection.

What inspired this collaboration, and what was it like working with &Other Stories?
Susan Fang: The whole concept of this collection was based on creating dream-like statement pieces that can also be worn in your daily wardrobe. This collection ties together my love of nature, dreams, and surrealism through fashion. One of the key pieces is the 3D-printed flower necklace. I had a really vivid dream about a transparent flower blossoming. I don’t know if transparent flowers exist in the real world, so I felt I had to create one, it became my showpiece. We crafted a less heavy version for this collection, which I love; it’s a creation inspired by fantasy, rendered in reality.

After traveling to Stockholm to meet the design team, I just knew and had a feeling it would be a great partnership – even my close University friend Soyeon was miraculously a member of the co-lab design team – I couldn’t believe it, it was like it was a special sign! I have been impressed by how we both share many of the same beliefs – a passion for bold design, exact attention to detail, having fun with fashion, but never compromising on quality. It’s been a harmonious and smooth partnership, I enjoyed working with Frida Billegren on this collection – we share a passion for flowers and nature, so it was fulfilling to visualize the designs together. What also really stood out was the remarkable finishing we could achieve, and incorporation many of my signatures into the collection, allowing me to realize some design ideas I’ve wanted to do finally but couldn’t before – like the beaded “water drops” on the broderie anglaise and the laser-cut flower petal skirt and ‘treasure’ dress.

How would you describe this collection in three words?
Susan Fang: Nature-inspired, fantastical, and with a three-dimensional quality that I love.

How do you envision this collection fitting into the rest of the body of your work, and how do you see it influencing future trends?
Susan Fang: We used essences of our main collection design and transferred into the & Other Stories collection. For example, the treasure dress was inspired and adapted from the dress Black Pink Jisoo wore from us at our premiere debut Flower MV, and the Transparent flower necklace was also from our showpiece that New Jeans wore for V magazine cover, but we made a lighter flower version. We adapted our signature bubble crystal sandals into large diamanté sandals, our crochet bead dresses into knitwear pieces, our broiderie anglais pieces we actually added more details in for & Other Stories by incorporating hints of transparent beads on top. We have adapted the signature designs into pieces that could be fitted for all types of age ranges and added elastic for comfort for different body shapes too.

How do you balance staying true to your signature style while also evolving and pushing boundaries with each new collection?
Susan Fang: Perhaps because every collection is very genuine, and we always feel it will feel harmonic to what we truly feel in that meaningful moment. Every season we will create new concepts, textile innovation and new handcraft techniques, but they are always inspired by the core of nature – and we always need the designs to make our hearts flutter.

The Susan Fang & Other Stories co-lab collection is available in selected stores worldwide and online on Stories.com.