The latest high in Fantastic Manland is the super fresh launch of FANTASTIC MAN CHINA. It’s a new print edition that appears six times a year, run entirely from Shanghai, and a new development that we’re obviously thrilled about. ■ Discussions of a Chinese license of our title have been ongoing for a few seasons, and in fact, we met our Chief Executive Officer ALEX SUN exactly 10 years ago at a lunch on Lago Maggiore, Italy, hosted by GIORGIO ARMANI. (Interesting to think that Mr. ARMANI, without knowing, may have had a hand in this new title…) ■ The debut issue landed with three different covers: one of tennis star CARLOS ALCARAZ, one with designer GLENN MARTENS and one featuring GRANT WANG, the man who turned Labubu into a smashing success. ■ Barely time to dwell on things: the next issue will be out very soon and has, among others, 25-year-old actor/singer/philanthropist JACKSON YEE on the cover. ■ What exactly does the notion of fantasticness mean in a Chinese setting? “The term ‘fantastic’ is often used as a fun reaction,” says JIACHENG GUO, Fantastic Man China’s Editorial Director. “On talk shows, when something surprising happens, the host says ‘Fantastic!’ – very playful.” ■ JIACHENG also thinks of the Chinese word ‘妙人 / miàorén’ for “a person who’s special in a surprising way; a bit strange, but in a good and charming way. Not perfect, but very original. When you see a miàorén you think: ‘Oh wow, interesting!’ To me, ‘fantastic’ has a similar feel.”

Among the raving responses following the release of Fantastic Man China, there’s one that charmed JIACHENG in particular. “A friend of mine said that after reading the magazine he suddenly felt like treating his life a little bit more gently, a little more refined. I was very happy to hear that.” And indeed, there were great contributions found in the 242-page debut issue. ■ Above, a collaboration with the exciting Japanese label AURALEE. “A perfect example of what we love,” says JIACHENG, the Editorial Director. “Work that feels effortless on the surface but is incredibly precise underneath. Calm, confident, soft but strong, minimal but sensational.” ■ The photos are by DAISUKE NAKASHIMA, a Fantastic Man and BUTT regular, and styling by JASON RIDER, who’s also a loyal member of the Fantastic Man family and serves as Fashion Director for our Chinese twin title.

With the launch of the first Chinese issue comes a series of collaborations, podcasts, a film, a promotion campaign with a popular coffee chain, etcetera. Glimpses of a whole other universe, but with the occasional familiar friend among the subjects. ■ Above, left, is Chinese-Canadian actor BLAKE ABBIE, who we often hang out with at fashion shows in Paris – besides his Chinese celebrity status he’s also the editor of ‘A Magazine Curated By’. And photogenic too.

It’s only one ocean-crossing flight from Shanghai to Melbourne, Australia, where ‘WESTWOOD | KAWAKUBO’ opens at the NGV. It’s a fashion exhibition juxtaposing the work of Dame VIVIENNE and the genius behind COMME DES GARÇONS. ■ The two designers have quite a lot of chaotic fabulosity in common. And not all museum shows featuring clothes on dolls are exciting, but from experience, the work of these two ladies always seems to have been made for museum display at its most grandiose.  This Sunday until 19 April 2026. ■ (Above, Vivienne Westwood, from the Cut and Slash collection, Spring Summer 1991.)

And a nice weekend listening tip from Asia, from colleague ELIOT, who was enjoying an ambient music extravaganza earlier today in a spectacular church in Tokyo, Japan, courtesy of ASICS and designer KIKO KOSTADINOV for their collaborative NOVALIS line. ■ He especially liked this 1980s-inspired Kankyo ongaku – ‘environment music’ – work called ‘Meisou (The Sound Of Water)’, by FUMIO MIYASHITA. It’s one of many meditative compositions selected for the evening by BILL KOULIGAS, founder of record label PAN. If this doesn’t chill you out, then good luck with your weekend!