CONCEPT

A captivating pop-up restaurant and runway concept, inspired by the SS25 Fashion Week collaboration between Balenciaga and Shanghai’s Nu Xiang Mu Dou, brought together the worlds of high fashion and fine dining in an unexpected yet seamless fusion. The event featured a Balenciaga-inspired menu, including the standout dish of black truffle soup dumplings, offering a sensory experience that showcased how food culture and fashion are increasingly intertwined. This collaboration served as a striking reminder of how these two creative realms are blending, pushing the boundaries of design and experience.

The creative direction behind the event was anchored in three key pillars, each reflecting a unique element of the collaboration. The first, Layered Worlds, drew inspiration from the woven texture of a bamboo steamer, symbolizing the seamless fusion of fashion and food. This concept beautifully merged two seemingly disparate worlds, illustrating how they can come together in harmony.

The second pillar, Ground & Gold, was inspired by the black truffle itself—a rare, underground delicacy that has become a coveted luxury. It represents the balance between humble origins and elevated global status, mirroring how fashion and food can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.

The third, Rising Spirit, captured the ethereal movement of steam rising from the dumplings, symbolizing energy, transformation, and the life force that connects the culinary and fashion worlds. Together, these three pillars formed a cohesive narrative that seamlessly blended the realms of haute couture and haute cuisine, turning each dish and design element into a statement of creative unity.

The woven timber façade draws inspiration from the intricate bamboo construction of a traditional bun steamer, while fabric installations mimic the rising steam, creating a dynamic visual representation of the dish’s essence.

The oval design of the pop-up space ensures a fluid, organic flow, allowing visitors to effortlessly move around and through the restaurant. This versatile layout also enables the space to seamlessly transform for runway shows and events, adapting throughout the duration of Fashion Week to accommodate a variety of experiences.

Curated displays and installations surrounding the central bar area create immersive moments of visual storytelling