SHI-JIE TEE & HAO-YU WANG

Nectar Royale

Description

In a bee colony where there can be only one queen, the rival queen bees compete with one another in a dazzling display of beauty and power. Their exaggerated hip silhouettes proclaim status and authority like the aristocrats of Versailles, while their individual poses appear glamorous and elegant on the surface, yet are in fact sharp and confrontational, all in pursuit of the hollow title of the one true queen bee.

This collection draws inspiration from that idea, transforming the bee’s highly recognisable yellow-and-black colouring into its primary palette. The garment silhouettes combine extremely cinched waists with exaggerated volume at the hips, creating the distinctive noble presence of the queen bee. The choice of materials further reflects the creature’s characteristics, with layers of tulle and fur carefully interwoven to evoke the bee’s physical qualities.

The accessories and details continue this bee-inspired language, including a crown and collar made from black feathers, signifying the queen bee’s supreme status within the hive. A dramatic curved stinger headpiece serves as a bold piece of armour in the battle for the throne. In addition, the collar incorporates the European ruff, historically associated with aristocracy, to further emphasise the queen’s elevated rank.