With the Year of the Horse coming up, BOSS has released a capsule collection that leans into tradition without making it feel heavy or ceremonial. Instead of going loud with symbolism, the focus is on craftsmanship and detail, using references from classical Chinese goldwork and translating them into modern clothing that still feels wearable.
Campaign & Creative Direction
The campaign is fronted by world swimming champion Wang Shun, who also happens to be a BOSS brand ambassador. His presence makes sense here. The Year of the Horse is often linked to drive, momentum and resilience, and that sense of discipline runs through the visuals. There’s a lot of movement in the campaign – not in an overproduced way, but enough to reflect energy and forward motion.
What stands out most is how the collection handles its inspiration. Techniques like engraving, filigree work, cloisonné and granulation aren’t used literally. Instead, they show up through textures, patterns and finishes. It feels considered, not decorative for the sake of it. There’s a clear balance between heritage references and BOSS’s clean, structured design language.
Key Pieces & Overall Feel
The capsule includes jackets, knitwear, sweatshirts, T-shirts, polos and denim, along with smaller pieces like underwear and socks. The colour palette stays quite focused – red, white and black, with gold detailing used sparingly. It doesn’t overpower the pieces, which is probably why the collection works as everyday wear rather than something tied only to the festive season.
One of the key pieces is a zip-up leather jacket featuring laser-cut detailing inspired by traditional chasing techniques. It’s bold, but still controlled. That same design approach carries through to the jacquard down vests, velvet sweaters and laser-printed denim. Hoodies and sweatshirts use layered prints and embroidery to reference filigree work, while subtle gold-tone bead details nod to granulation techniques.
Each piece also comes with a Chinese-inspired name, which adds another layer to the collection without feeling forced. It’s a quiet detail, but it fits the overall tone.
Rather than feeling like a limited collection made just for a moment on the calendar, the Year of the Horse capsule feels like something designed to last beyond the season. It brings traditional craftsmanship into a modern context without overexplaining itself, which is what makes it feel relevant.
The BOSS Year of the Horse capsule collection dropped on 5 January 2026, and is available on their website.
