2023 is the year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac calendar, a repeating cycle of 12 animals with each year representing a different animal. The rabbit is believed to symbolise purity, agility and optimism in Chinese culture but it is also a cruel reminder that I turn 24 this year. As with each Lunar New Year, brands ring it inr with products inspired by the corresponding zodiac animal. Being born in the year of the rabbit, the symbol of the rabbit holds a special place in my heart and I am on the hunt for a fashionable keepsake to remember the year by. Whether you are born in the year of the rabbit ( 2023, 2011,1999,1987,1975,1963, etc) or simply love these adorable long-eared creatures, here are 7 rabbit inspired fashion collections that I found hare-raising:
Charles and Keith have released their festive collection featuring the bunny protagonist, Judy Hopps, of Disney’s animated film, Zootopia. Consisting of bags, shoes and accessories with bunny-inspired elements, the collection is a playful yet chic interpretation of the year of the rabbit. While some items resemble Disney merchandise rather than fashionable accessories, this collection is a must-have for lovers of Zootopia. My personal favourites are the platform mules and Mary Janes with the elegant silver-toned bunny-shaped buckles. Other standouts in the collection include a Judy Hopps structured tote bag, cardholders with Judy Hopps’s police badge, crossbody bags with bunny-shaped hardware and Judy Hopps-inspired charms. (P.S. the box some of the items come in has a gorgeous gradient of pink and blue with Judy Hopps illustrated on it.)
2. Levi’s Collegiate Lunar New Year
For denim lovers and those who want to show their love for rabbits more subtly, Levi’s collegiate Lunar New Year collection is for you. After all, who wouldn’t love a good pair of Levi’s jeans? The collection gives off a vintage high school vibe with its focus on the colours mustard yellow and vibrant red. This collection is my personal favourite due to its seamless incorporation of the hopping rabbit icon in their jeans and jean jackets that I could see myself wearing all the time. You also know you’ll get your money’s worth because Levi’s denim is hard wearing. For the Lunar New Year, Levi’s also has plain red polo t-shirts and red graphic t-shirts which are perfect to show off to your grandma who keeps piling food on your plate and then proceeds to say you should lose some weight.
3. White Rabbit Candy X Coach (China exclusive)
When I first read up and saw this collection online I was on the edge of my seat. The white rabbit chewy candy is iconic and evokes a sense of nostalgia for many growing up in Asian households. Then everything took a turn when I found out that this collection is a China exclusive. The White Rabbit Candy X Coach collection includes apparel, footwear and accessories that give Coach’s signature Jacquard print and popular bag shapes a sense of playfulness. The collection balances fashion and the White Rabbit cartoonish logo well without looking too tacky and childish. If you are a big fan of Coach, Coach Singapore also has a festive collection but with a minimalist 2D graffiti inspired logo that reminds me of KAWS.
4. Ferragamo’s Scarlet Eye of the Rabbit
Ferragamo’s take on the rabbit is grotesque in a refreshing way. The collection does away with the adorable silhouette of the rabbit and its long ears that we have seen in previous collections. Instead, the bags and ready-to-wear feature close-ups of the rabbit’s scarlet eye which is said to symbolise clairvoyance. One need not be clairvoyant to predict that people wearing this collection are going to turn heads. The collection also includes a print of a rabbit in an ominous bamboo forest that gives off an aura of mystique and enchantment. The standouts from this collection are the rabbit eye t-shirts, Scarlet Eye Trifolio Box Bag and the maxi-print Grancini credit card holder.
5. Burberry’s Rabbit Heart Print and Rabbit Logo
The bunny ears appear in their TB (Thomas Burberry) logo when looking at Burberry’s collection this year. While this version of the rabbit ears reminds me of Ariana Grande’s ‘Dangerous Woman’ album cover, Burberry shows that the rabbit is not just cute but has a lot of swagger in the streetwear pieces. Seriously, have you seen the crystal-embellished beanie with rabbit ears? It is to die for. The collection has a wide range of hoodies, sweaters and joggers, so it’s perfect for a cosy Chinese New Year at home. For those who want a pop of colour and playfulness, the rabbit print with two rabbits making a heart makes an appearance on multiple clothes and accessories. My personal favourites are the Lola bag with the rabbit quilting and the rabbit print pleated crepe de chine skirt.
6. Dior By ERL: Men’s Lunar Capsule
This year Dior only did a Lunar New Year collection for men (what happened to equality of the sexes), but do not let that deter you from getting something ladies! The collection is a collaboration between Kim Jones and guest designer Eli Russell Linnetz (better known as ERL). Most of the items emphasise the fuzziness of rabbit hair with a 3D rabbit patch that pops out. While I have seen a shearling Dior saddle bag floating around the internet, I can’t seem to find it available online so that might be very hard to get. There are 2 other bags officially available but unless you love the colour red they would be hard to wear after the festive period. If you only had to get one thing from this collection, it would be the low-top sneakers with the rabbit patch. The sneakers are crafted with red and white calfskin and are adorned with the white Dior Oblique Galaxy pattern. I would not recommend visiting with them because once those are left outside, someone is going to be stealing them (most probably me, especially they are my size).
7. Gucci’s Rabbits in a Blooming Field
Last, but certainly not least, is Gucci’s boldly geometric and technicolour Lunar New Year collection. The ready-to-wear boasts multiple different rabbit prints to choose from, all of which are a fun and hopeful take on the wistful rabbit. For those who want to make a statement, the ivory and multicolour graffiti prints on shoes and jackets showcase why Gucci does maximalism the best. If you find the prints too loud, some of the ready-to-wear have the seasonal logo of bunny ears on the iconic interlocking GG logo which is a subtle but effective incorporation of the rabbit into the house DNA. However, the bags have no rabbit in sight as their totes and crossbody bags are a mix of a pink and beige GG Supreme canvas with leather trimmings. The contrasting colours of the GG Supreme canvas are gorgeous but lacklustre compared to their previous Lunar New Year collections that include a variety of bags and leather goods.
Overall, there truly is something for everybody. While paying homage to the rabbit we have seen fashion brands do adorable iterations (Charles and Keith, Coach and, Dior), cool streetwear interpretations (Burberry and Gucci) and an avant garde re-imagination (Ferragamo). Whether your fashion sense is a bit more understated or bold, I hope that this article gives you a good overview of the trends among fashion brands for the year of the Rabbit. May this year be full of happiness and amazing looks!