After more than a decade spent perfecting the accessories that anchor a wardrobe, Yu Mei is turning its attention to the clothes themselves.
Unveiled during an intimate runway presentation at Wellington’s Common Material, Salon Yu Mei sees the accessories brand expand into womenswear with a tightly edited 36-piece capsule. Drawing on traditional menswear tailoring, school uniform dressing and the practicality of everyday wardrobes, the collection introduces a new dimension to the Wellington label.
Rendered in wool suiting, silk and 100 per cent cashmere, the collection focuses on the foundations of a modern wardrobe: sharp tailoring, effortless shirting and elevated knitwear. Designed to be mixed, matched and worn on repeat, the capsule expands into 180 looks, highlighting the versatility at its core.
For founder and creative director Jessie Wong, the collection represents a natural extension of her own approach to dressing.
“I’m a big believer in the building blocks of a wardrobe,” she says. “My own wardrobe is built around the same well-made staples that I reach for again and again. They slot seamlessly into my day and work hard for me, so that philosophy naturally informed the collection.”
While the collection’s foundations are practical, its inspiration is deeply personal. Wong looked to Wellington – from the windswept palette of the South Coast where she grew up to the community of creative and entrepreneurial women whose wardrobes, routines and lifestyles helped shape the collection.
“I designed this collection with them in mind,” Wong explains. “They want to feel confident, polished and well dressed, while taking some of the mental load out of getting ready.”
Staged inside City Gallery Wellington, the salon-style presentation referenced the intimate atelier shows of the 1950s. Guests were given pencils and notecards to record favourite looks as models circulated carrying numbered placards, allowing the craftsmanship and detail of both the debut womenswear collection and Yu Mei’s Leather ’26 accessories to be viewed up close.
The immersive approach extended beyond the clothing. Guests were seated on limited edition hydroformed steel stools created in collaboration with Wellington furniture designer Gerard Dombroski. Dombroski also crafted the bespoke brass buttons seen throughout the collection. Drawing on his background in architecture and furniture design, the buttons were cast from brass salvaged from the Mibar Building, home to the Yu Mei studio, creating a direct link between the garments and the brand’s Wellington headquarters.
For Wong, the backdrop of Common Material presented an opportunity to think beyond the runway.
“I think the format demanded it,” says Wong of the immersive experience. “The only way to fully realise what we wanted to do was to create everything — the garments, the bags, the furniture, the set — the entire world.”
The result offered a rare opportunity for Yu Mei to present a fully realised brand universe. “It’s the perfect opportunity for vistors to step into the world of Yu Mei,” Wong adds, “which is a really exciting moment for us because it’s not something we often get the opportunity to do.”
Salon Yu Mei’s made-to-measure tailoring will be available to pre-order for two weeks (from June 6th) through Yu Mei Lounges and online, while knitwear will be available to purchase through Yu Mei retail stores and online in the coming weeks.
