With the rise of the modern Chinese consumer, countless fashion brands have integrated elements of the country into their designs. At the end of each year, these brands often use the Chinese zodiac as inspiration for a new line of products. The Year of the Rat is the first year of the zodiac and has an auspicious meaning (“rat comes with treasure”), so many brands have launched limited-edition rat items to welcome the arrival of the new zodiac sign in 2020.

Clinique highlighter

Clinique recently launched its adorable 2020 Year of Rat limited-edition Cheek Pop Highlighter Gold Celebration. This embossed pattern of a golden rat is surrounded by Clinique’s iconic daisy design. The tone of the highlighter is champagne gold, fitting with the holiday vibe and working with any complexion. This long-lasting, delicate shade can help draw a more dimensional shape. The packaging of the highlighter, with golden characters on a red background, also has the atmosphere of Chinese New Year. 

Stuart Weitzman shoes

In the new Stuart Weitzman collection, the brand uses the Chinese traditional embroidery technology, combined the unique star logo with playful mouse head pattern, and created the most distinctive design. The new shoes in this collection are all in simple and comfortable style, fully embodies the bright and energetic characteristic of mice. This collection will soon be released in Stuart Weitzman’s offline boutique stores, Chinese official website and its Tmall online flagship store. 

Gucci sweaters

Gucci also launched the early spring 2020 collection featuring lively Mickey Mouse elements in Gucci Cruise 2020 in June this year. The new collection, a collaboration between Gucci and Disney, will go on sale in January 2020. The white Mickey Mouse embroidered sweater adopted innovative knitting method, which increased the comfortability; the orange Mickey Mouse sweater is paired with pumpkin color and a vintage star-pattern design for a nostalgic look.

Blancpain watch

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Swiss luxury watch brand Blancpain has unveiled a limited-edition rat design for its Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar. The 45mm platinum case features a crown set with a cabochon ruby. It incorporates five under-lug correctors – a patented Blancpain invention – enabling easy fingertip adjustment of functions without the need for a correction tool. The refined and timeless aesthetics of the collection can be seen in the double-stepped bezel of the case, as well as on the dial bearing gold appliqués for the Roman numerals and hands shaped like cut-out sage leaves. It will be issued in a 50-piece limited edition, with each crafted by master watchmakers in the workshop at Le Brassus.

Longchamp bags

As a vivid and modern Parisian fashion brand, Longchamp represents a fresh and creative French style. To welcome the arrival of the Year of the Rat, it has also released a special collection in collaboration with well-known Chinese fashion blogger Mr Bags. Unlike other brands printing the rat pattern on their products, Longchamp decided to go with a dashing cheese print on its most basic black handbag – a clever and nifty design for a forward-thinking brand.