RAXXY-WHEN ALGORITHMS MEET FASHION

Can fashion and mathematical models meet and define a new direction in SPORTSWEAR? The answer is ‘yes’, and Raxxy is a perfect example.

By Maria Cristina Pavarini

Raxxy is a SPORTSWEAR brand that aims to reinvent the idea of the down jacket, as it is based upon unique design and product criteria. It was founded in 2020 by William Shen, a young Chinese designer who introduced mathematical algorithms to the fashion industry, creating 3D design couture down jackets and coats.

Born in Pinghu City, a globally recognized hub for down jacket production, Raxxy originates from its founder’s passion to create a project that could challenge traditional outerwear design by combining cutting-edge technology, mathematical algorithms and the heritage of Chinese craftsmanship.

“Despite studying mathematics, I’ve always had a deep passion for fashion and creativity. A few years ago, I opened an atelier where I designed upcycled pieces, transforming vintage garments into something entirely new,” Shen says.

“Still, I always carried the dream of creating a true brand. I also had a childhood memory keep coming back—my mother’s down jacket. That nostalgic image became my starting point, and I began focusing on the world of down and nylon, blending it with my love for color— and for mathematics, a field in which I won a medal at the Math Olympiad in China,” adds the designer and founder.

He personally developed the algorithms and their applications. Through the use of algorithms, he creates three-dimensional modules that, when multiplied, form the building blocks of Raxxy’s garments.

Each piece is the result of both artistic intuition and mathematical precision, according to a combination that makes the brand unique in the global fashion landscape.

Shen’s mathematical models are then applied directly to the materials, which are carefully selected first and foremost for their quality and durability.

“Ours is a true blend of innovation and tradition—a new way of approaching the creative process, starting from a mathematical idea that transforms into something tangible and tactile,” he notes. Despite math and fashion seeming to be far apart from each other, Raxxy’s own creative process is entirely opposite to traditional fashion design criteria as it’s less about the materials themselves and more about the challenge of creating shapes.

There is a strong conceptual and artistic dimension in the brand’s design, but the real goal is to translate a geometric pattern into pieces that are wearable and desirable at the same time and where design and functionality coexist in harmony.

The brand uses only certified, premium-quality natural down, carefully selected to ensure maximum performance. In particular, it chooses goose neck feathers, known for providing the highest level of warmth.

Despite all the brand’s padded pieces offering the same degree of insulation, it can work with different thicknesses, as its items’ three-dimensional structure doesn’t always require padding in every part.

For example, for summer collections, it uses unpadded nylon shells that still feature geometric detailing created through a unique technology— maintaining the signature look without the need for down.

The brand’s garments come complete with removable elements, like hoods or modular details, but it is exploring the possibility of offering transformable fashion as part of a long-term vision, blending functionality with innovation in new and exciting ways.

Colors and their combinations are another fundamental part of Raxxy’s pieces, that Shen personally selects upon the inspiration behind each collection.

For f/w 2025, for instance, he was inspired by the British countryside landscapes by using rich greens and earthy tones. At the same time, he incorporated a more playful, pop element like checks, though all reinterpreted through the unique Raxxy’s lens.

“While the algorithm supports our design process, the final choices always come from a blend of personal creativity and the story we want to tell with each collection,” he points out.

Raxxy is positioned in the luxury segment, with €1,600 as an entry price, and average prices typically ranging between €1,800 and €2,200. “Each item reflects high-quality materials, innovative design, and the unique blend of craftsmanship and mathematical precision,” Shen specifies, underscoring that each piece is carefully crafted to offer both exclusivity and durability.

The brand is sold globally through Marcona3, an international showroom based in Milan, owned and managed by Paolo Ciarlariello, an insider who is keen about scouting outstanding emerging brands. “When we met Raxxy for the first time, we had no doubt. The product is a breath of fresh air in the fashion industry and the founder is a real genius,” says Ciarlariello, expressing an opinion shared by top-level retailers selling it, such as 10 Corso Como, Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Lorenz Bach, Boo The Shop and Franz Kraler.

Raxxy exemplifies how SPORTSWEAR could evolve, according to Shen. “I believe that today technology can be the most important driver of innovation in a sector like fashion, which urgently needs to renew itself to become increasingly attractive. This also has to do with how consumers are evolving as they are becoming increasingly attentive and curious, and always more interested in technological issues and their applications,” he says.

Credits: courtesy Raxxy