VIATOR FELIS
2026 SPRING SUMMER
“DUALITY”

VIATOR FELIS is the first independent project by designer Shawn Lin, developed as a personal exploration of balance and identity through fashion. The name — Latin for “traveling cat” — reflects a mindset of movement, curiosity, and transformation. Inspired by travel and subcultures such as skateboarding and motorcycle communities, the project translates lived experiences into garments that merge function with quiet expression.

The debut collection, “Duality,” explores the coexistence of contrast — ruggedness and refinement, structure and softness, street energy and restraint. Military and workwear elements are reinterpreted with lightness and precision, expressing a calm sense of rebellion. “Duality” defines the foundation of the VIATOR FELIS identity, where opposites meet and individuality takes form.

Serving as the project’s guiding compass, this mood board blends rugged vintage grit and street energy with gentle tones and quiet elegance. Balancing rawness and refinement, it reflects a quiet tension and harmony at core of the brand—A study in duality, it defines the atmosphere and sensibility of Viator Felis.

Moodboard

The “Duality” collection transforms rugged inspirations—military, workwear, biker culture, and 90s skate aesthetic—through refined fabrics. We treat textiles as a form of storytelling. Warm tweeds, silk-Nylon, high quality color denim—each material softens hard silhouettes and reveals a new kind of strength. Selected not just for quality but for feeling, these fabrics embody Viator Felis’s core: quiet rebellion, emotional tension, and elegance in contrast.

Fabric as voice

After setting the materials, the design approach follows with the same balance of strength and softness.
Silhouettes are grounded in rugged archetypes—military garments, workwear, biker pieces, and 90s skate staples—yet they are reshaped with calm volume and gentle curves. Utility jackets, cargo trousers, and motorcycle silhouettes are softened through rounded lines, eased structure, and subtle tailoring, shifting their character from toughness to refined clarity. The result is clothing that carries strength without aggression, elegance without fragility—a quiet duality expressed through form.

Design

Inspired by the origin of our name, the clouded leopard has become an iconic symbol of Viator Felis. Elusive and rarely seen, it moves through the forest like a drifting cloud—appearing and disappearing without warning. Its name comes not only from its cloud-like markings, but also from its presence: quiet, powerful, and impossible to define. This original pattern captures the essence of the animal. Shapes shift across the fabric—some sharp, some fading—mirroring the leopard’s movement and the idea of contrast that lies at the heart of our collection. It reflects what Viator Felis stands for: strength in subtlety, elegance in unpredictability, and freedom through transformation.

Textile design

“DUALITY” COLLECTION
RUNWAY PRESENTATIONS

The Viator Felis Duality collection was presented in runway form at both NYFW and LAFW.
Each presentation offered its own quiet interpretation of the theme, allowing the silhouettes, textures, and pace of movement to speak for themselves.
Rather than repeating a single viewpoint, the two runways revealed different temperaments within the same universe — expanding the collection’s range and the ways in which duality can be felt and understood.

Photo by Lauren Cassot

At NYFW, we presented a modern expression rooted in New York’s spirit — a style that transcends gender and cultural boundaries. From a pale-blue silk-nylon biker-inspired jacket paired with a lace bandana to silhouettes that merge softness and strength, the collection conveys a message of freedom — encouraging individuals to move beyond traditional conventions and embrace their own identity.

2025 NYFW

At LAFW, we embraced the rich lifestyle and free-spirited culture of Los Angeles. While maintaining the brand’s quiet and soft aesthetic, we introduced relaxed styling and cultural elements such as helmets and skateboards. Through these contrasts, the presentation expressed the duality of lifestyle, diversity, and the sense of possibility at the heart of Viator Felis.