From Milan to Paris: Behind NOTHING NINE’s “Everything From Nothing”

By Patty Wong | N.7 Studio

The runway is what everyone sees. The work that makes it possible begins long before the first model walks.

For NOTHING NINE, Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027 marked the next chapter in a creative journey I had already been part of in Milan. After producing the brand’s show at Palazzo Serbelloni in September 2025, I returned as backstage director for its Paris show, Everything From Nothing, at the Musée de l’Armée.

More than a change of city, Paris continued the brand’s exploration of creation, emptiness and the potential of what has yet to take form.

Behind the runway

As backstage director, I oversaw the environment in which the collection moved from preparation to presentation. Marta Pisani and Kayla Lim coordinated backstage alongside me, ensuring the team, looks and show sequence moved together.

Backstage direction is about more than timing. It requires clear communication, attention to detail and the ability to respond quickly without losing sight of the overall vision.

The audience sees a seamless runway. Behind it are structure, teamwork and trust.

From Palazzo Serbelloni to Paris

Having produced NOTHING NINE’s Milan show, I arrived in Paris with an understanding of the brand and its creative direction. But every city creates a different context, and the Musée de l’Armée brought its own architectural and historical presence.

Working within such a space required careful planning and sensitivity to the surroundings while keeping the collection at the centre. For N.7, the continuity between Milan and Paris reflects an essential part of fashion production: understanding what defines a brand while adapting each show to its environment.

A founder’s pursuit of excellence

Behind NOTHING NINE is founder Chloé Zeng, whose dedication extends far beyond the design studio. In pursuit of exceptional quality, she travels to meet suppliers and discover materials and craftsmanship across Spain, Italy, France and beyond.

The luxurious tweeds selected for Spring/Summer 2027 reflect that commitment. Every supplier visit and material choice represents an investment of time, energy and personal conviction. For Chloé, sourcing is not simply about beautiful fabrics, but about building a brand with its own identity, values and creative language.

What makes NOTHING NINE distinctive, however, is not only its attention to quality, but the humanity behind it.

For the Paris runway, the artwork on one of the bags was drawn by Chloé’s seven-year-old daughter, Naomi. Travelling alongside her mother, Naomi has experienced the creative journey firsthand. Her drawing brought an intimate and unexpected touch to the show, connecting luxury fashion with the spontaneity of a child’s imagination.

It was a reminder that a brand is shaped not only by materials and silhouettes, but by the relationships, experiences and personal stories woven into its identity.

When concept becomes material

The collection explored the tension between structure and fluidity through frayed bouclé tweed, tailoring, leather, shearling and chainmail. Tweeds sourced from Spain, Italy and France brought rich textures and distinct European textile traditions to the collection.

These materials gave physical form to Everything From Nothing, balancing tactile contrasts with sculptural silhouettes. The idea of creation emerging from emptiness extended beyond the title into the relationship between material and form.

The work behind the image

At N.7 Studio, we see fashion production as the meeting point between creative ambition and practical execution. A successful show depends on many people, most of whom disappear from view the moment the runway begins.

Returning to NOTHING NINE in Paris after Milan gave us the opportunity to continue the brand’s story across two cities and two very different settings. From backstage coordination to the smallest creative details, every element contributed to bringing Chloé’s vision to life.

What makes a fashion show memorable is not only what appears on the runway, but the people and stories behind it. In Paris, NOTHING NINE’s pursuit of craftsmanship met a deeply personal creative spirit, one that even a seven-year-old artist could help express.

The runway may last only a few minutes. Making those minutes meaningful takes preparation, dedication and a team working towards the same vision.

Production credits
Backstage Director: Patty Wong
Backstage Coordinators: Marta Pisani, Kayla Lim
Production: SME

Editor: Jonah Liu