The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2026 - Issue 39

bitecatwalk HENGDI WANG FASHION WEEK LONDON Spring/Summer 2026 R ising designer Hengdi Wang unveiled ‘Exogenesis’, a collection that boldly intertwined Eastern mythology, specula- tive futurism and cutting-edge materials to conjure a mesmerising post-human dreamscape. Framed as a meditation on life’s beginnings and our bond with the mysterious, ‘Exogenesis’ reimagined clothing as more than adornment. Here, garments transformed into vessels of memory, survival and meta- morphosis, bearing echoes of lost civilisations and yet- to-be-dreamed futures. Wang treated fashion like an archaeological dig, unearthing myths and reassembling them through a cosmic, futuristic gaze where humanity and the universe fused as one. Drawing inspiration from Eastern mythology and the ancient Chinese text ‘Shanhai Jing’ (The Classic of Mountains and Seas), the collection re-envisioned legendary beasts and celestial tales as remnants of lost interstellar sagas. In Wang’s imagined cosmos, mythical creatures morphed into alien entities, and the sacred Kunlun Mountains became the spectral wreckage of a generational starship adrift in the currents of time and memory. Visually, the collection struck a mesmerising balance between vulnerability and strength. Exoskeletal frames, segmented contours and biomechanical shapes lent the garments an uncanny, otherworldly presence, while cascades of fabric and intricate embellishments offered fleeting glimpses of softness. Futuristic 3D-printed textiles mingled with time-honoured embroidery and jacquard, and weaved a conversation between ancestral artistry and digital invention. Its surfaces and textures captivated the senses. La- ser-etched fabrics bore Wang’s ‘Mechanical Oracle Script’, a visual code blending ancient Chinese glyphs, sacred geometry and cosmic motifs drawn from NASA’s archives. Bio-luminescent accents and shimmering finishes breathed life into the garments, making them appear as sentient beings that evolved before the view- er’s eyes. Yet, for all its conceptual daring, the collection pulsed with emotion. Beneath the futuristic surfaces and spec- ulative tales lay meditations on continuity, identity and the endurance of cultural memory. Wang probed what endures of humanity as technology, biology and myth converge, and whether our oldest stories are themselves codes for survival. Hengdi Wang stands out in today’s fashion scene for fusing couture-level artistry with visionary world-build- ing. Grounded in Taoist thought and shaped by a background in jewellery design, the collection radi- ated a sculptural precision seldom found among new designers. https://hengdiwang.com