Exploring “SPARKLES – I SEE THE LIGHTS” with TEAM WANG design CEO Henry Cheung

TEAM WANG design is back with a new collection, and this time, it’s ditching black for colours and lights in the upcoming “SPARKLES – I SEE THE LIGHTS” collection. The new direction comes with the addition of Mobolaji Dawodu as Fashion Director who joins forces with Creative Director Jackson Wang as the brand’s fourth anniversary approaches. The first launch drops on July 20. Take a peek into the collection below and join us as we go behind the scenes with CEO Henry Cheung.

“SPARKLES – I SEE THE LIGHTS” is not your average TEAM WANG design collection. For one, it’s all about bright and bold colours. In this summer collection, Jackson Wang explores his emotions and his journey to find his inner light. The colours and lights signify his path towards happiness and acceptance, embodying a longing for a brighter future.

As the latest addition to TEAM WANG design’s “SPARKLES” series, the collection features TEAM WANG design’s first venture into footwear with its lambskin slippers. Luxury and simplicity come together in a sophisticated design that fits comfortably around your feet. Like all items in the collection, the slippers come in various colours. Match them with the selection of tops, shorts, dress pants, and hats from the collection to complete your summer look.

“SPARKLES – I SEE THE LIGHTS” is Mobolaji Dawodu’s first collaboration with TEAM WANG design. Dawodu is the Fashion Director at Large for GQ and a world-renowned costume designer and styling director. He’s previously styled the likes of Rihanna, Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams for their music videos, tours, and red-carpet events. His work integrates cultural elements and personality traits into dynamic designs.

As Fashion Director, Dawodu joins TEAM WANG design’s vision of experimentation and breakthroughs. Together with Jackson, the two explore the possibilities of life and what it means to accept it. Through the collection, they encourage everyone to express themselves, embrace hope, and discover their light.

 

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The collection will be coming to stores in two drops. Customers can shop the first drop globally starting from July 20 on the TEAM WANG design website, designated boutique store, and the WeChat mini program (TEAMWANGdesign). Moreover, people can experience the spirit of “SPARKLES – I SEE THE LIGHTS” firsthand at pop-up spaces opening in China and Thailand. These pop-ups will also begin on July 20, simultaneously with the collection launch.

Ahead of the launch, TEAM WANG design CEO Henry Cheung sat down with Lifestyle Asia to discuss the new collection, his favourite items, and his vision for the future. He also shared how the relationship with Mobolaji Dawodu came about and what his chemistry with Jackson Wang was like. Read the full interview below.

How did Mobolaji Dawodu join TEAM WANG design as the Fashion Director for “SPARKLES – I SEE THE LIGHTS”? 

It was Jackson’s idea to have Mobolaji on board for TEAM WANG design. For the past four years, Jackson and I were the ones who kept outputting and outputting… I felt like at that stage, we were kind of burnt out and we were open to injecting other people’s DNA into the brand and the company. 

After I met with Mobolaji, we talked a lot and I realized why Jackson brought him up in the first place. He is a very honest and straightforward person and he looks at the bigger picture. That really aligns with our brand vision and the reason why we created TEAM WANG design. Of course, he’s also a very experienced person in the fashion industry in all aspects. 

What was your first impression after seeing the new collection? It’s very different from the usual black in TEAM WANG design collections. 

To be honest, I was a little bit concerned at the beginning. It’s the first time that we are going in this direction. It was kind of out of my comfort zone, but I do feel like this is necessary and important for the brand to develop. It’s just like graduating from high school to college. 

Just to clarify, this is part of SPARKLES, which is not limited by colours and products. It can be anything that we feel like doing and think is fun. We also keep our COOKIES line and THE ORIGINAL line in the way that it should be. 

What was the chemistry like between Jackson and Mobolaji? Were the meetings full of “SPARKLES”? 

I feel like the conversation was the key to the whole process. All the nights that we discussed the collection… it’s more like a sharing session where we let our inner voice speak up instead of talking about anything technical. It was like a check-in session for everyone if we were all on the same page.

What is the most exciting creation in the “SPARKLES – I SEE THE LIGHTS” collection to you?  

I would say the lambskin slippers because it’s the first time that we are doing footwear. I would definitely place them in my house for my guests to use and experience. Of course, the slipper is still stylish enough for people to wear on the street, to a shopping mall, and even for dinner. 

What’s your plan to expand the exposure and reach for the new collection?  

The message of this collection is to have acceptance in life and to embrace the future. We’re basically encouraging the audience to be brave and sharp enough to move forward in their life journey. So, we have pop-up stores in Shanghai and Bangkok for people to experience the concept. We also have small display points in UK, Japan, Australia, and around the world to get global reach. 

As the TEAM WANG design CEO, what do you think of the brand’s performance so far? What are your hopes for the brand in the future?

It took us four years to build TEAM WANG design and we’re still building. We stayed low and kept improving ourselves. We’ve been more patient and consistent, waiting for our moment to come. Of course, as the CEO of the company and the brand, one day, I would like to see our permanent stores everywhere. Even in the corner or in the market.

(Images: TEAM WANG design)