Chungking Express, the iconic 1994 film directed by Wong Kar-Wai, remains a fount of inspiration for generations of creativity. Hong Kong-based fashion label MODEMENT has gleaned new meaning from the film’s distinctive and beautiful cinematic expressions, with its SS20 collection, Inside the Box, taking us on a journey through life on repeat.

Chungking Express is known for its chill and relaxed pace punctuated by its characters’ expressions of loneliness. To MODEMENT designer Aries Sin, this sparked a recollection of the Bible verse Ecclesiastes 1:9: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” The new collection explores the idea of life on a loop, with the same habits and motions we repeat every day. Our heroine has her routines from day to night—she is alone, but she is not lonely.

Inside the Box is showcased in a look book that takes us through a seemingly simple flow of scenes. From waking up in the morning and applying makeup, to watering plants, feeding fish, reading a book and then ending the day—it seems unremarkable. But beneath this simplicity is a deeper exploration of our impact on the planet and on those around us.
The designs themselves draw on the palette of the film and integrate elements of 90s fashion as well as cues from the characters’ various uniforms. Modern materials are used in innovative ways to give these classic shapes and silhouettes a futuristic and imaginative touch, and bring them into a new era.

“We live in a loop, repeated day by day, until we find our lead—our person, or reason, to break the pattern. That’s what shaped how I approached designing this collection, finding the balance of something new and something eternally true.” – Aries Sin, MODEMENT designer