CORNERSTONE

Launched in 2017, Hangzhou-based menswear brand Cornerstone is a brainchild of acclaimed interior designer and architect – and priest – Sun Yun. The brand name is inspired by a Biblical line: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22). Unsurprisingly, Sun’s collections are inspired by architecture, with its innovative materials and marvelous aesthetic codes, as well as its ability to meet the human need for space and security. Sustainability is another key component to Cornerstone’s blueprint, with deconstruction and upcycling traceable throughout its collections. The core brand idea here is to use the old to create the new (“Rebirth”) and shaping new garments by utilizing antique Chinese designs and fabrics. Sun is no stranger to experimentation and critique, addressing social issues in China through his work. His collections, usually shown in Paris, are stocked at H Lorenzo, Lane Crawford, Ssense, Machine-A and most other progressive retailers around the world.