Introducing REFUSE CLUB
by Adriano Batista
Refuse Club is a Chinese brand launched in 2019 by Parsons grads Yuner Shao and Puzhen “Stef” Zhou.
Zhou and Shao launched Refuse Club as a commentary on the #MeToo movement, which never took off in China. The hashtag was banned from Chinese social network site Weibo shortly after it began trending. Although they live in the U.S., Zhou, and Shao were determined to address the #MeToo taboo in China on another platform and launched Refuse Club.
The brand gets its name from the “Salon des Refusés,” a mid-19th-century exhibition in Paris which showcased paintings that were rejected for being too scandalous by the official Paris Salon. Just as the Salon des Refusés upended cultural conventions in France, Zhou and Shao hope to challenge social mores through Refuse Club.
The brand is also a platform for community and a display of solidarity with #MeToo victims in China, where conversations about sexual harassment and assault are more likely to be silenced or ignored than in the U.S and other liberal states. Zhou and Shao were researching specific cases of sexual violence against women in China when their debut collection began to take shape. They took notes from newspapers that described victims’ attire as provocative, suggesting that they were to blame for being attacked.
The collection is inspired by what victims were allegedly wearing when they went missing, challenging viewers to address an often-implied link between victims’ appearance and the crimes that befall them. Running tops and shorts were among the most frequently mentioned items of clothing in newspaper clips, and are referenced throughout the collection. Other pieces feature a series of screen-printed illustrations called “A 21st Century Guide For Women to Stay Safe.”
Many looks incorporate Chinese silk brocade and Western suit textiles, such as wool and satin, which are produced in Zhou and Shao’s native Chongqing. Once famous for its prominent ramie linen and embroidery exportation, Chongqing’s textile industry is now dying out. The collection references other Eastern narratives with pieces like the qipao, a traditional loose-fitting dress designed to conceal underlying eroticism.
Lacoste Fall/Winter 2019
SEMJONOVS
Pharrell Williams presented Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection during Paris Fashion Week.
Titled “Nothing could have prepared us / Everything could have prepared us”, this retrospective exhibition explores over thirty-five years of artistic practice across various photographic genres.
KAWAkEY’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection tells a story about cages, freedom, and the quiet weight of time.
Hiroaki Sueyasu’s latest collection for KIDILL isn’t just about clothes but also about the people who once lived on the fringes, spinning their own worlds out of obsession and imagination.
MELLER teams up with Lazy Oaf for a limited-edition pair of sunnies designed for true dog lovers.
Montblanc and Wes Anderson return with “Let’s Write,” the second chapter of their collaboration, and an ode to writing, imagination, and the journeys words inspire.
For their SS26 collection, presented at Paris’ Palais de Tokyo, creative directors Aurélien Arbet and Jérémie Egry continue their quiet conversation between art and utility.
Set in the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, the collection exists in a moment between places, where escape and elegance meet.
With JAH JAH’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, self-taught designer Daquisiline Gomis turns garments into quiet acts of resistance.
Last week, CANEX Presents Africa x Tranoï opened their exclusive pop-up honoring the diversity and depth of African fashion at the Galeries Lafayette in Paris, running until July 8th.
Men’s Paris Fashion Week has arrived, and to celebrate, we’ve put together a cultural city guide to help you experience the best of Paris.
For ssstein’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, Japanese designer Kiichiro Asakawa digs deeper into the kind of beauty that doesn’t announce itself.
Guilherme Breves at Time Model photographed by Michael Oliver Love and styled by Alessandro Ferrari, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
For three days in June, Parque da Bela Vista in Lisbon was filled with music as MEO Kalorama returned for another year.
To introduce Fear of God’s new “Civil Collection”, Jerry Lorenzo worked with director Mike Carson on CIVIL, a film that moves like a quiet statement.
Two American icons collide in the latest Levi’s® and Nike collaboration, merging denim heritage with sneaker culture.
Borque makes his comeback with “Cuando Vuelvas,” a track that blends electronic sophistication with his signature pop hooks.
Oakley has named Travis Scott its first-ever Chief Visionary, cementing a long-term partnership that will reshape the brand’s creative direction.
For Spring/Summer 2026, David Catalán presents “PROBLEMS”, a collection rooted in rural Portuguese craft yet shaped for contemporary wear.
Summer dressing should be easy, sharp when it needs to be, relaxed when it wants to be. MR PORTER’s High Summer Part 2 campaign gets that balance right.
The Barreira Catwalk 2025 filled Valencia’s IVAM with creativity as students presented their final projects under the theme BREAK OUT.
We sat down with Pasqualetti the day after his show to discuss his creative process, how he approaches gender rules, and why being a young independent brand in Italy is no easy feat.
Leander Wilde photographed by Anastasia & Sasha Laukart and styled by Kristina G., in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
In my search for more, I heard about the Yaga Gathering.
MARINE SERRE expands beyond clothing with the launch of MARINE SERRE MAISON, beginning with a collaborative tableware capsule featuring upcycled pieces from France’s historic Faïencerie de Gien.
Magliano’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection trades the runway for cinema, presenting clothes that demand stillness.
British designer Saul Nash returned to Milan Fashion Week to present his Spring/Summer 2026 collection.
Balenciaga and Puma’s long-awaited collaboration finally hits stores!
For its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, QASIMI reflects on ten years under the creative direction of Hoor Al-Qasimi, honoring the legacy of the brand’s late founder, Khalid Al Qasimi.
Italian luxury fashion house Prada presented its Spring/Summer 2026 collection during Milan Fashion Week.
