Yueqi Qi AW25: A Catty-walk at Tokyo Fashion Week

Yueqi Qi’s off-schedule show at Tokyo Fashion Week was a deliciously chaotic spectacle, blending feline grace with human expression in her Autumn/Winter 2025 collection, PERSONA. Held at the atmospheric Yodobashi Church in Shinjuku, the runway transformed into a space of identity play.

At the heart of the collection was the interplay between the female and the feline, a theme that quite literally turned the runway into a catwalk, with cat-ear headpieces sculpted from macramé and upcycled leather. The pieces prowled the runway with an interesting mix of structure and fluidity. Sharp laser-cut laces and upcycled leather found harmony with intricate beading and embroidery, reflecting fractured identities and transformation. A recurring leopard cat lace pattern repeated this idea and symbolised evolution and reinvention.

Qi’s signature craftsmanship shined through, with eco-friendly Alcantara® adding a refined touch. The show was a buffet of textures and silhouettes—bouncy babydoll dresses, fur-cuffed coats, Victorian-style capelets, and gothic crucifix necklaces all played their part. Neon green lace bows and floating tendrils brought a rebellious energy, while skirts in every imaginable form (bubble, pencil, ruched, maxi, mini—you name it!) provided an abundance of movement and drama.

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And then there were the accessories: Beaded AirPods Max turned tech into high fashion, while the YUEQI QI x UGG Golden Rise modular boots that converted perfectly from boots to sandals and proved to be both playful and practical.

The final look was a showstopper: a black and brown macramé gown dripping in endless tassels, finished with a matching cat-eared hat. It was the perfect crescendo to a collection that was both wild and refined, like a feline stretching before a pounce.

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With her signature mix of theatricality and meticulous handcraft, Qi once again proved why she’s one of fashion’s most exciting storytellers. While her own cat, Babi was not physically present, his presence was certainly felt on the runway. Having been the muse, his energy spilled into every fierce, feline-inspired detail of the collection.

PERSONA was an exploration of identity, transformation and the quiet power of a well-placed disguise. After all, isn’t fashion just another way of deciding who we want to be even when no one is watching?