Hung La is a first-generation Vietnamese who was born in America and now residing in London. His pursuit of fashion design led him to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Upon graduating, La landed a role at Balenciaga under Nicolas Ghèsquiere and later joined forces with Phoebe Philo at Céline.  Phoebe Philo at Céline. In 2016, La, along with his partner, Léa Dickely, founded the luxury womenswear label Kwaidan Editions.

In 2021, La established the luxury brand LỰU ĐẠN, choosing to emphasize an autobiographical approach to storytelling through design. Since its creation, LỰU ĐẠN has acted as a platform for unconventional and rebellious representations of Asian identity, fostering understanding and connections between internal and external communities.

CLOT and LỰU ĐẠN unveiled their twelve-piece capsule during CLOT's SS24 runway show at Shanghai Fashion Week, a significant event marking CLOT's 20th anniversary. The show,  'CHANGE THE GENERATION,' symbolized a 'passing of the torch' between Edison Chen, CLOT, and the next generation of Asian creatives, blending heritage with modernity as collaborative designs took the stage. 

The collaboration began when CLOT Founder and Creative Director Edison Chen met with LỰU ĐẠN's Hung La in London. This resulted in an artful synergy, creating a unique and powerful statement on the ever-evolving Asian identity while bridging the East and the West.

We speak with Hung La of LỰU ĐẠN about how the creative exchange started with Edison Chen, LỰU ĐẠN's inaugural runway experience, the portrayal of gangsters and new legacies through design, and words of wisdom for the next generation of Asian visionaries.

1. How did you meet Edison? What are your thoughts on this collaboration?

Ed and I met through a mutual friend when he came in for a studio visit in London.  We easily connected and felt like it was a great opportunity for us to collaborate for CLOT's 20th Anniversary. It felt like a meeting of the minds, the Old School Legend that he and CLOT embody and the New School Punk of LỰU ĐẠN. 

2.  Can you share your experience and journey designing the CLOT x LỰU ĐẠN capsule collection with us? 

We collaborated with Edison and Humberto Leon on the design of the collab collection. It all came to life when we put the show together in Shanghai for SS24, which coincided with CLOT's 20th Anniversary. For the show, Edison invited a number of brands to collaborate on runway pieces. It was interesting to see how CLOT's codes were woven into those of their aesthetics and identity, and we were honored to be one of them. Together, we mashed up some iconic streetwear styles, including a super oversized Denim Look, a Full Motocross Look, and a Shrunken Hoodie with X-large BBALL Shorts.    

3. What was it like seeing your designs on the runway at the CLOT SS24' CHANGE THE GENERATION' show during Shanghai Fashion Week?

It was the first time LỰU ĐẠN was ever part of a catwalk, so it was super surreal. The experience of doing that whole show and takeover in Shanghai was far better than I could have ever imagined. I still remember walking through the photo call, seeing that giant staircase set, and walking all the way up to what felt like heaven. 

4. Your brand touches on the expression of Asian masculinity and the 'Dangerous Man', is this expressed in your designs for the CLOT x LỰU ĐẠN capsule? What other concepts or inspirations are reflected in the designs?

In this collab, we were inspired by the legend of Edison Chen and  CLOT's iconic archive.  We wove in the aesthetic pillars innate to the world of LỰU ĐẠN and our love of gangsters, streetwear's exaggerated silhouettes, and the sultriness of old-school Hong Kong. Streetwear itself is on its own hero's journey and has transcended its initial classifications. More than ever, it's become a bridge between communities and aspiration and reality. Through this capsule you can see that it also serves as a bridge between East and West and an ever-evolving Asian identity.

5.  Do you have any words of advice for young Asian designers?

Stay true to yourself and believe in your story because the world wants to see and hear you.  

The CLOT X LỰU ĐẠN capsule collection will be available first-come, first-served at selected JUICE retail locations worldwide and online at JUICESTORE.com from May 27. 

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