Founded by father-daughter team JiaYing Han and YiYi Han, HAN is a luxury womenswear brand comprised of modern, minimalist pieces punctuated by interesting details. At the heart of HAN’s brand identity is a collaboration between graphic designer JiaYing and filmmaker YiYi. JiaYing grew up in China with a traditional upbringing influenced by classical teachings whereas YiYi experienced Western influence from an early age. Drawing upon this cultural dichotomy, JiaYing and YiYi sought to found a luxury brand that marries modern, minimalist style with traditional Chinese ideology. From there, HAN was born.

Made in New York and seasonless to a large extent, HAN is ideal for women across the globe who deeply appreciate unique design. Each HAN collection is built upon five key attributes.

First, HAN focuses on meticulous tailoring that flatters the female figure. In an effort to create pieces that are minimal and classically tailored but also have modern, interesting design details, HAN uses asymmetry, architectural folds, and intricate drapes to achieve such balance.

Second, natural materials are used throughout HAN’s collections. The majority of fabrics hail from Italy and contain 100% natural fibers such as linen, cotton, silk, and cashmere. The same emphasis on natural materials is applied to trim.  For example, silk lining, mother of pearl buttons, and corozo buttons are used throughout the collections. Such focus on natural materials is an extension of JiaYing’s values and philosophy which draw upon the classical relationship between man, nature, and the universe.

The color palette selected for HAN is a continuation of the natural theme. Subtle, muted tones that can be found in nature are used to build the overarching color palette for each collection. Further, black, white, and gray are neutrals that play a central role in the brand and its collections.

HAN is also informed by JiaYing’s artwork. Each collection showcases a design inspired by JiaYing’s original artwork which marries modernism with Chinese philosophy. Innovation and generating original ideas is one of HAN’s core values; utilizing original artwork helps to further such objective.

Lastly, Chinese heritage is a common thread carried throughout the brand. A review of Chinese art history and the evolution of Chinese clothing over the past five centuries revealed the use of folds, drapes, layering, and asymmetry. Those elements became signature design details of the first HAN collection and beyond. Further, the imagery and the overall branding of HAN incorporate subtle, and sometimes abstract, signifiers of Chinese heritage such as embroidery, silk, and original prints which are rooted in Chinese history.

The delicate balance of contrasting concepts – minimalism and intricate detail, soft fabrics and hard angles, modernity and drawing inspiration from ancient history – are the essence of HAN.