GC Experience: Our CABBEEN Fall/Winter 2025/2026 Fashion Show adventure in the Ancient Harbour in Fujian, China

An unforgettable panorama.

The Main Event: A Runway Between Heaven and Ocean

The show, titled “Across Mountains and Seas, Born with the Tide,” was the opening act for Quanzhou Fashion Week. The genius of it was the location: a 150- meter runway built right on the harbour wall. There I was, standing on a breakwater in a harbour in Shishi, China, with a sea breeze doing its best to ruin my carefully styled hair, and I’ve never felt more like I’m inside a movie. The soundtrack? The rhythmic crash of waves against the stones below. The set design? A dramatic sunset painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, with an ancient lighthouse standing sentinel. The dress code? A dazzling array of CABBEEN’s latest collection, worn by a parade of celebrities I usually only see on my phone screen.

Alex To and Mr Cabbeen.

As host An Hu guided the evening, stars like Jacky Heung, Li Wen Han, and Myolie Wu lit up the brand's signature yellow carpet. Each wave that crashed seemed to applaud alongside the audience.

Is this real life?

I wondered, as the salt-tinged air mixed with the buzz of excitement. This is where the surrealism hit peak levels. To our surprise, the legendary Alex To (born Alejandro Delfino) came to us, warmly welcoming the Malaysian media as though we were old buddies. It was a bizarre and brilliant collision of worlds - the gloss of celebrity against the grit of the harbour wall, the silence of the ocean punctuated by the whirring of cameras. I’m watching the arrival of celebrities with a lighthouse as a co-host, I scribbled in my notes, my handwriting shaky from the excitement and the chill. My inner monologue was a mix of professional analysis ("That deconstructed trench coat is incredible") and pure starstruck remarks ("Oh my god, that’s Wang Yi Ren!").

This is what it feels like when fashion dares to dance with nature. Forget the usual marble-floored venues and sterile spotlights of Paris or Milan - here, CABBEEN had built a runway on a breakwater, with the restless tide as its orchestra and a lighthouse as its stage light. it was a full-sensory experience, and I was there, pinching myself mentally. As the sun dipped into the horizon, its last amber rays melted into the sea, and I felt a strange sense of anticipation.

The CABBEEN's fall/winter 2025/2026 collection exhibit simplicity and sophistication.

Then came the night. The venue in Xiangzhi harbour was audacious. We were ushered past the usual media scrum to a seating area right on the edge of the breakwater. The stage was the harbour itself, with the endless ocean as its backdrop. As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in a watercolour of fire and amethyst, the atmosphere became electric. The air became cooler and carried the distinct, briny scent of the sea, a natural perfume no brand could ever bottle.

When the music swelled and the models began to walk the 150-meter runway, the concept truly came to life. As models strode past, clad in architectural tailoring and rebellious embroidery, I found myself lost in thought:

How often does fashion succeed in telling a story this big - not just of a brand, but of a culture, a people, a tide rising to meet the world?

The four giant suitcases weren’t just props; they were chapters. As models paused by the "1997" suitcase, I thought of CABBEEN’s birth, parallel to Hong Kong’s return. By the "2019" case, adorned with parade-style designs, I felt a pang of national pride, even from a Malaysian perspective - it was a testament to Asian design on a global stage. The wind, my initial adversary, now became part of the choreography, making fabrics billow and dance in a way no indoor fan ever could. It was alive. Director Xiao Xiangrong hadn’t just staged a show; he’d harnessed nature itself as a model.

Mr. Cabbeen.

The mastermind behind it all, founder Mr. Cabbeen (Yang Ziming), later shared that this was a dialogue with his hometown. And you could feel that personal connection. It was in the way the glowing CABBEEN logo was projected onto the historic lighthouse - a beautiful metaphor for guiding the future of Chinese design while honouring the past. Standing there, feeling the same sea breeze he must have felt as a child, the statement resonated deeply. This wasn’t a corporate event; it was a homecoming, a love letter to Shishi written in fabric and light. The lighthouse, now emblazoned with the glowing CABBEEN logo, was no longer just a navigational aid for ships, but a beacon for the brand’s journey - guiding it forward while ensuring it never forgets its roots.

It was a powerful symbol that stuck with me long after the final model had walked. But the adventure didn’t stop at the runway. The next day, we were whisked away to see the engine room of the brand: the CABBEEN factory in Shishi and their flagship store in Xiamen.

The Postlude: Factory Visit and the Ghost of a Seamstress

"Factory visit" might conjure images of sterile, robotic assembly lines. To my surprise, CABBEEN main factory was a sanctuary of craftsmanship. The hum of sewing machines was a rhythmic chant. I watched, mesmerized, as a craftsman meticulously embroidered a dragon motif onto a jacket, each stitch a deliberate act of creation.

I ran my fingers over rolls of fabric - robust cottons, delicate silks, technical textiles I couldn't name. This was where the magic was codified. Seeing the precision and labour that goes into a single piece gave me a newfound reverence.

I thought of the racks of clothes in their Sunway Velocity store, and now I saw not just products, but the ghosts of these skilled hands in every seam. It was a profound lesson in why CABBEEN costs what it does. You’re not just buying a shirt; you’re buying a piece of this focused, human energy. Seeing the meticulous craftsmanship up close - the architectural tailoring, the bold embroidery - gave a whole new meaning to the clothes we saw flowing on the harbour. It transformed them from mere garments into pieces of art with a story and a soul.

I went to a spectacular fashion show where the runway was built for both models and mermaids. And trust me - the mermaids would’ve approved.

Final Thoughts: Salt in My Hair, Style in My Soul

So, what’s the takeaway from my whirlwind trip?

It’s that fashion, at its best, isn’t just about what you wear. It’s about the stories you tell and the statements you dare to make.

CABBEEN masterfully blends Chinese philosophy with streetwise rebellion, creating an identity for the modern man who isn’t afraid to stand out. CABBEEN invited us not just to see clothes, but to feel a philosophy - to understand that being "Born with the Tide" means moving with rhythm and purpose, embracing your origins while riding the waves of change. Here, one can slip into a dragon- embroidered jacket and feel like a rebel philosopher, or pick up streetwear that whispers:

“I read Confucius, but I also listen to Travis Scott.”

For the modern Malaysian man, stepping into a CABBEEN store is an invitation to be part of that current. It’s a chance to wear a piece of a story that spans from a quiet harbour in China to the bustling malls of Kuala Lumpur. My own suitcase from the trip sits in my closet, but the real souvenir is the memory of that spectacular night - where the stars weren't just in the sky, but walking on a runway between the mountains and the sea, reminding us all to dress for the life we want to live, a life as bold and unforgettable as a fashion show on the edge of the world. With plans for nine more stores nationwide in the next two years, CABBEEN isn’t just arriving in the shores of Southeast Asia; it’s here to stay.

As I slip into my seat at my favourite café, someone asks how my trip went. I pause, smile, and sip my latte.

“Let’s just say,” I reply, “I went to a spectacular fashion show where the runway was built for both models and mermaids. And trust me - the mermaids would’ve approved.”

Brace yourselves, gentlemen - the tide is about to sweep us all.

@cabbeen.my

CABBEEN stores in Malaysia:

·       Sunway Velocity Mall: L2-46, Lingkaran Sunway Velocity

@cabbeensunwayvelocity

·       Pavilion Bukit Jalil: Lot 2.21.00, Level 2 (Orange Zone) @cabbeen.pvbj