Model Malte Carlsson wears a fuzzy green hat, white camisole, wide textured green panel, patterned trousers, and flats on white background.

Model Malte Carlsson with swept blonde hair wearing an oversized dark coat on a city sidewalk for The Face China.

Model with tall columnar black hair wearing a white strapless gown surrounded by perched and flying white doves.

Black and white editorial portrait of a shirtless male model with long dark hair wearing a sculpted neckpiece against a studio backdrop.

Model seen from the back with a high flat-top hairstyle wearing a white laced corset against a white backdrop.

Close-up monochrome portrait of model Malte Carlsson wearing an oversized shaggy fur hat covering his eyes.

Model wearing a dark long vest and striped scarf standing on an urban street between parked cars for The Face China editorial.

Model Malte Carlsson posing with crossed arms in a sculptural white corset dress and tall flattop hair for The Face China.

Model Malte Carlsson posing in a black and white striped garment with a corset overlay against a studio backdrop.

Model Malte Carlsson posing shirtless with tall structured hair, gold chain jewelry, colorful fringe skirt, and metallic gold shoes.

Model Malte Carlsson posing in sculptural layered black outerwear and tailored jacket against a light studio backdrop.

Black and white close-up portrait of model Malte Carlsson looking upward with circular patches under eyes and voluminous dark hair.

The Face China we hug, we hold 2026

About

In the latest editorial campaign for The Face China, titled we hug, we hold, the magazine leans into a surrealist exploration of form and identity through the lens of photographer Jialing Hu. The project serves as a masterclass in fashion portraiture, utilizing a combination of high-key studio strobe lighting and natural light to emphasize the architectural nature of the garments and the subjects. By centering on model Malte Carlsson, the series highlights an androgynous aesthetic that balances raw, intense gazes with highly structured, avant-garde silhouettes. The visual narrative is defined by intentional juxtaposition, where voluminous faux-fur accessories and metallic hardware clash with minimalist backgrounds, creating a stark, high-contrast dialogue between the subject and the frame. Whether capturing candid moments on European city streets or executing precise, symmetrical studio poses with white doves, the project maintains a clean, refined editorial minimalism that allows the textures of the clothing—from puff-sleeve stripes to intricate corsetry—to take center stage. Through the recurring motif of the self-hugging pose and the sculptural, flat-top hair styling, the collection transcends traditional fashion photography to function as a visual study of vulnerability and strength. This body of work underscores the publication's commitment to cutting-edge design, effectively blending high-fashion sensibilities with a sophisticated, contemporary portrait approach that keeps the viewer fixed on every deliberate detail.