Founder of Chemist Creations and C2H4, Yixi Chen

Yixi Chen is the creator of Chemist Creations, a creative agency that offers production services to businesses and artists. Billie Eilish, John Mayer, Post Malone, The Weeknd, 2 Chainz, and Kylie Jenner have all worn pieces from her fashion label C2H4. In 2018, C2H4 made $3 million in revenue.

C2H4 stands for the chemical molecule ethylene, which is exactly what it means in science. Its logo is a representation of the C2H4 molecule, which stands for ethylene. This scientific and constructive formula underpins the entire brand, with each collection presenting a tale about the current situation of the planet.
As our reality shifts around us, we must adapt.” To some, such an idea may seem absurd, but for the Shanghai-born artist, it’s just another source of inspiration. Chen was enamored with cinema and music subcultures as a child growing between China and the United States, while chemistry lab sessions provided rational thinking that she would later revisit in the artistic career she stumbled onto. Chen’s identity is built on duality; C2H4 is a slogan that proves fantasy and functionality can coexist.

While science and fashion may appear to be on opposing ends of the spectrum, Chen’s distinct perspectives have seamlessly fused the two, pushing the limits of what is deemed achievable in fashion.
By repurposing leftover military materials in a postmodern environment, the “Post Apocalypse” collection from 2017 envisaged what the world would look like after World War III. Similarly, the “Zero Gravity” collection continues to look into the future by picturing what people might wear in the year 2082. Collaborations like Nike, mastermind JAPAN, and Kappa, to mention a few, have benefited from Chen’s attention to storylines as well as his approach to merging traditional cut-and-sew processes with high-tech elements.