With his new collection, Loring New York designer Long Xu announces himself as a talent to be reckoned with.
Loring’s woven V-neck dress in silk.
For a budding young designer, turning the heads of the fashion industry’s insider set while barely out of school is nearly unheard of—but that’s exactly what happened to Parsons graduate Long Xu, whose graduation collection was shown during New York Fashion Week in 2015 and who was selected as a finalist for the H&M Design Award 2016. No surprise, then, that a few short years later he’s making a serious impact on the fashion scene with his Loring New York line—and Chicago fashion queen Ikram Goldman is loving his latest collection. “It’s so thoughtfully edited,” notes the boutique owner. “The collection is just 28 pieces, and every single piece has been carefully produced and presented.
Loring's cotton white lattice shirt and two- tone drawstring trousers in vegan leather and patent leather.
He designs in a different tone than anybody else I’m working with; there’s a lightness to his hand that is much needed right now in terms of clothes.” How does Goldman see a Chicago woman wearing Loring? “The garments are on the dressier side, but you can also dress them down—wear one of the silk jackets with a great legging or a jean, or do one of the dresses with a cardigan and a shirt under it for a daytime work dress. The idea is to be able to mix and match.” It all adds up to an exciting new voice in fashion, says Goldman. “Among young designers just coming on the market, he is one to keep an eye out for because he’s working with fabrics and proportions in a way that’s so modern, chic and comfortable—it’s a joy to be able to have this collection in our store.” Ikram, 15 E. Huron St.
Photography by: Courtesy of brand
