In the heart of Paris, a serendipitous encounter transformed a budding friendship into a creative partnership that birthed TRINITE STUDIO. TRINITE STUDIO embodies a lifestyle that celebrates authenticity and individuality, appealing to women who thrive on street culture and embrace a blend of freedom and rawness.
With successful pop-ups in Omotesando showcasing their distinctive designs inspired by punk aesthetics and personal narratives, the duo envisions a future filled with innovative collaborations in Japan and beyond.
Can you share the story of how you met in Paris and decided to start TRINITE STUDIO together?
Cao Yang&Xi Zhang: Our close bond developed from an unexpected situation. We were just acquaintances when Zhang had a serious accident in Paris, which left her hospitalized for three months. During that time, she moved in with me, and every day I would take her assignments to school and then carefully explain the lessons and content to her. It was during this time that I discovered how well we connected and worked together.
What kind of lifestyle or message would you like to convey to your customers?
Cao Yang&Xi Zhang: We want our brand to convey the journey of self-discovery and a fearless attitude toward life. It’s about staying true to oneself.
I’ve seen that you did a pop-up in Omotesando before, which attracted a lot of people from Japan, as well as Europe and the US. Can you tell us a bit about the theme and inspiration at that time, and what other plans you have for the Japanese market in the future?
Cao Yang&Xi Zhang: The inspiration for the pop-up at that time was tied to our seasonal theme, “Free Spirit 2.0.” This collection deepens the context of heritage and destruction, drawing influence from the band Siouxsie and the Banshees, which introduced punk elements into the series. For the pop-up, we created a drum set installation suspended in mid-air, with all the accessories broken apart to create a fragmented feel.
The response to the pop-up exceeded our expectations, especially considering we’re a relatively unknown niche brand from China in the Japanese market. The foot traffic in Omotesando and the engagement from Japanese customers were incredibly encouraging. We are currently participating in showrooms in Japan and hope to collaborate with more boutiques or create some innovative partnership projects.
What kind of woman do you envision wearing TRINITE STUDIO?
Cao Yang&Xi Zhang: Women who choose TRINITESTUDIO are those who excel at self-discovery and have a passion for street culture. They embody a blend of free-spirited romance and raw, rugged characteristics.
How do you gather inspiration when designing?
Cao Yang&Xi Zhang: We are gradually refining our design philosophy, with themes stemming from our own life experiences—be it travel, film, music, or even an unrelated everyday conversation. From there, we extend and connect these ideas to the brand’s style logic, enhancing our inspiration collection through draping, collage, and research into functional vintage.
What efforts do you think are necessary to ensure that more people recognize the power of Chinese fashion brands?
Cao Yang&Xi Zhang: Chinese fashion brands need to amplify their voices and go beyond simply being clothing brands; they should express a distinct aesthetic and attitude. It’s important to continually evolve and refine the brand’s unique aesthetic while also enhancing international promotion in a more proactive manner.
What challenges have you faced while building TRINITE STUDIO?
Cao Yang&Xi Zhang: We consider ourselves fortunate as designers to have built our brand without extensive commercial experience, which has allowed us to make decisions more freely and stay true to ourselves. However, as the brand matures and expands, the need for business knowledge becomes increasingly important. This may be our weak point, and we need to find a balance between commercial aspects and design creativity.
What advice would you offer to individuals aspiring to establish their own business in the fashion
or art industry?
Cao Yang&Xi Zhang: In running your business, don’t forget your true feelings and needs. Only genuine expressions will resonate with people; even if you’re not following the latest trends, they will still remember you.
Only genuine expressions will resonate with people.
