This Grandma-Inspired Knitwear Is About To Be Everywhere

We’re still five days away from the Lunar New Year, but from what we’ve seen, brands aren’t waiting until the night of to introduce their LNY-themed products. And one cult-favorite brand in particular is taking the holiday a step further by not just designing an on-theme capsule, but releasing an entire collection — and it’s about to go viral.

This week, YanYan, a Chinese knitwear brand that launched less than a year ago but has already garnered thousands of loyal followers on Instagram and IRL, announced the arrival of its third collection. The 60-piece assortment was inspired by the vibrance of Sham Shui Po, a shopping district in Hong Kong that specializes in arts and crafts, and houses a large elderly population. Designer and co-founder Suzzie Chung was also inspired by “classic Chinese motifs for mystical ‘rainbow clouds’ 彩雲 (pronounced Choi Wun in Cantonese and Cai Yun in Mandarin).” 

"Sham Shui Po is one of the oldest districts in Hong Kong,” Chung’s design partner, former rag & bone Director of Knitwear, Phyllis Chan explains. “It is a diverse neighborhood of street stalls, trim and fabric shops, old people, wet markets, and traditional food shops. Every time we go I feel so inspired and rejuvenated — it has a funny small-town vibe in a big city.”
 
“The grandma clothing stalls and knick-knacks are perfect for our eclectic style,” Chung adds. “In Hong Kong, there are a lot of older ladies who love mixing and matching print/colors/textures — it can be a head to toe floral look in completely different colors and flowers, or just clashing prints all together. But they seem really happy and comfortable in their outfit, and that's a great vibe.” 

Since “grandma style” is what made us fall in love with YanYan in the first place, it’s no wonder that the duo would use Sham Shui Po and its inhabitants as inspiration. “We always start our collections by imagining what we might find in our grandmother’s closets, and how we would reinterpret the idea for ourselves,” says Phyllis. “Mine loved wearing twinsets in floral prints with a little sparkle. Her mismatching prints were so fun and carefree,” Suzzie says of her grandmother. 

“In this collection, we wanted to explore mixing and matching colors and patterns and stripes, and how to create fun twinsets that can match and look eclectic at the same time.” The result? The perfect blend of YanYan’s specialty knits with bold details like neon stitching and piping, and the introduction of space-dyed fabrics taking the shape of button-downs, midi dresses, and skirts. In addition, expect a small selection of handbags, both designed using leftover fabrics from previous seasons as a way to avoid waste and to continue the legacy of the brand’s past collections. 

Ahead, shop our favorites from the 50-piece YanYan collection, available now on YanYanKnits.com.

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YanYan Sunblock Short Sleeve Cardigan in Colorblock Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Sunblock Wide Leg Pant in Colorblock Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Rosie (Rosebud) Pouch in Ice White Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Rosie Tote in Ice White Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Cirrus Linen Short in Day, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Stratus Linen Dress in Midnight, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Rosie (Rosebud) Crop Top in Ice White Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Rosie Tote in Ice White Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Rosie (Rosebud) Short Sleeve Cardigan in Ice White Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Sunblock Grandpa Cardigan in Colorblock Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Laza Cardigan in Boucle Jacquard, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Laza Bell Bottom in Red Boucle, $, available at YanYan

YanYan Cirrus Linen Dress in Night, $, available at YanYan

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Beyoncé’s Adidas x Ivy Park Collab Sparks Criticism From The Plus-Size Community

Following much excitement regarding Beyoncé’s Ivy Park collaboration with Adidas — it immediately sold out following its launch on Saturday, January 18 — the line has received some valid criticism from the plus-size community. The collection, which includes maroon and orange accessories, clothes, and footwear, features a limited size range, from XS – XL. And for many, this feels surprisingly exclusionary, especially considering the artist has spoken frequently about the need for inclusion and representation.

“You can’t celebrate the inclusivity of your other projects, having plus-size dancers and background singers, but ignore us again when it comes to this. The exclusion is intentional and I’m tired,” tweeted essayist Candice Marie Benbow. “We can love her and still say Bey is wrong for Ivy Park’s size exclusion.”

We can love her and still say Bey is wrong for Ivy Park’s size exclusion.

You can’t celebrate the inclusivity of your other projects, having plus size dancers and background singers, but ignore us *again* when it comes to this.

The exclusion is intentional and I’m tired.

— Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) January 18, 2020

While Bey sent full wardrobes of the collaboration to stars like Reese Witherspoon, Cardi B, and Yara Shahidi ahead of the launch, Chicago blogger LaToya T. Wright penned an essay for The Curvy Fashionista, regarding the lack of size inclusion, pointing out, “No orange boxes were shipped to any plus size star.” She went onto say, “While celebs unpacked boxes filled with the complete collection, it looks like plus size women will be limited to the accessory category, some of the outerwear pieces and one of the four different sneakers.” Wright also noted that in December 2019, Elle Magazine reported that Beyoncé was designing “IVY PARK with everyone in mind” and that the press release distinctly states that the collection champions “values of inclusivity, community and diversity.”

“My team has worked hard with the adidas team in bringing my vision to life for this first collection and I am grateful and proud,” Beyoncé stated in the press release. “From the accessories to the clothes and footwear, I wanted to design and re-imagine pieces that serve as favorite armor for anyone who acknowledges the strength in their individual style and lives freely and boldly.” 

While the collection has been marketed as being gender-neutral, it is puzzling that size diversity was not accounted for. Wright commented, “It’s great to see that Beyoncé made IVY PARK inclusive for all genders but what about the plus-size men who also can’t fit in the pieces, either.” There’s also the fact that Adidas’ recent collaboration with Universal Standard, which goes up to size 4X, while Teen Vogue reported that the Adidas x Ivy Park collection had at some point been offered in sizes up to 4X via ASOS and Shoepalace.com.

Asos had the collection with sizes up to 4xl. Was this not available at other sites? pic.twitter.com/mVakvARJSq

— Krystal Metcalfe (@KrystalMetcalfe) January 18, 2020

“While we have plenty of options for plus size activewear, that doesn’t help the sting of being left out,” Wright wrote. “At least Adidas didn’t go to the fake inclusive route by hiring smaller plus-size models to promote the Ivy Park collection. But it’s still disappointing.”

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