Babyghost is the fledgling bi-continental brand from Chinese Qiaoran Huang and American Josh Hupper, both of whom interned at Diane von Furstenberg; Hupper then went on to design at Thakoon. In 2010 they formed Babyghost, a playful, streetwear-leaning range with a particular eye to the tension of the girlish and the hard-edged. In the brand s Spring offering, polka dots and multi-hued lace played alongside graphics inspired by chopper culture and tattoo artist Troy Denning. There were sweet dresses—like a kicky number in denim and a wide-neck body-con—and elsewhere slick black jerseys printed with skulls that harked back to another Babyghost Spring touchstone: True Detective.
Some of the simplest propositions here were the most successful: an oversize white button-down edged in polka-dot trim, and a plaid bomber that, on closer inspection, was dappled with leopard spots. They were at once charming and sinister—not unlike doll-faced Xiao Wen Ju in the brand s Spring video, toting a gun and taking aim at cherished cartoon characters. Xiao is a walking endorsement for Babyghost, as she is often spotted in street-style shots wearing the label. Fellow countrywoman Liu Wen has also been seen in the brand s clothes. While the bulk of Babyghost s business is in China at this point, the designers are making a strong bid for the American market, and it s currently stocked at VFiles Mercer Street brick-and-mortar outpost. With friends like these, only good things are on the horizon for Babyghost.
