“New York has that perfect balance between commerce and creativity,” says Chico Wang, the designer behind the cheerful new brand Laurence & Chico. He believes that the city has been integral to his career, as it has allowed him and his co-founder (and husband) Laurence Li to meet people and study. (Wang attended Parsons on a full scholarship.) And, since it’s also the place they both call home, “it only makes sense to present my first show here,” Wang says. The theme of Laurence & Chico’s spring/summer ’16 sophomore collection comes from an aquarium in Canada. Wang used drawings of sea creatures made by Li, who is also an illustrator, as the basis for prints. He hopes that the collection, which includes billowy blouses with oversize ruffles and below-the-knee shorts with bright yellow polka dots, comes across as playful and bold.