Within the walls of the Poltrona Frau on Madison Avenue, the AAPI label, Lost Pattern, debuted its first Ready-to-Wear collection, La Isla, for Spring/ Summer 2025 at New York Fashion Week. This collection invited guests into a calming oasis, melting away the chaos and pressures of fashion week. 

La Isla wasn’t just about showcasing designs, it offered a moment of pause and relaxation, allowing guests to breathe, and immerse themselves in the rhythms, colors and tranquility of island life. It was a brief, yet refreshing retreat from the fast-paced aura of New York City. 

Designers Cata Cheng and Yong Wang retold tales of their travels and memories throughout the collection, infusing each pattern and color palette with meaning, energy and an ode to a different to Island. 

“One of my favorite designs captures the cherished moments I spent with my beloved dog, Panda, in Central Park,” Wang shared.

The collection was as diverse as the islands that inspired it, each design symbolizing a different island, offering new moments for discovery, inspiration, connection to nature and pure escapism. The collection was thoughtfully divided into mini-collections, each distinguished with its own pattern, colors and personality. 

The show opened with soft whites and subtle hues of yellow, gradually transitioning into deeper blues and blacks, before surprising the audience with bursts of rose-pinks. 

“Each design in the collection feels like discovering a new island,” Wang explains. “Our patterns tell stories and embody the artistry that defines the essence of our brand.”

The first model graced the runway in an ethereal, all-white unstructured dress, wrapped softly at the waist, setting the tone for a tranquil open to the show. The next two designs maintained this understated elegance with flowing silhouettes – wide legged pants and flowing skirts. 

The collection then shifted dramatically, much like stepping onto a new island; bright greenery emerged, contrasting the earlier quiet tones. Green patterns with soft hints of blue adorned the runway. These designs included an unstructured white blazer paired with green-wide legged pants, followed by a model dressed in head-to-toe green, a complete shift in aesthetic and atmosphere. 

Throughout the show, scarves were a recurring motif, not just as accessories to the designs, but as integral elements, used as skirts, cover-ups, tops and draped essentials, allowing the patterns to flow as the models walked, much like the wind across the tropical shores. The collection then evolved into tones of pastel greens and purples, quickly deepening into golden hues. 

As the sun continued its symbolic journey, hints of pink began to appear, subtle infused into the collection, while still echoing the yellows of earlier designs. These transitions mirrored the changing colors of the sky. Just as the sun sets each day, the collection transformed into its own sunset-- shades of pink dominated the runway. Whether it was an all-pink dress cinched at the waist, a structureless black dress accented with pink buttons, or a layered pink dress, each design reflected the varied hues of a sunset. 

La Isla captures the full spectrum of the sky’s transformation, allowing a sensory journey through the islands and beloved memories of the designers. 

While La Isla transported guests into an island-inspired landscape, the heart of the label remained firmly rooted in its core values. A deep love for nature and a commitment to peace are reflected in both the designs and the label's production of the collection. 

Lost Pattern’s eco-friendly approach is prioritized in every step of the creation-process through the use of sustainable silk-fabrics and honoring traditional craftsmanship. 

“These artisans, who harvest tea leaves in lush fields each spring to support their families, are honored by Lost Pattern’s choice to prioritize their well-being over accelerated production.”

Still young, Lost Pattern transformed fashion into a vehicle for storytelling, connection and an eco-conscious mindset.