NEO·GENESIS
Photographer: Yichen Zhou
1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?
In 11th grade, I attended a summer school program at Parsons for fashion design, which solidified my career path as an artist and fashion designer. Growing up, I was always fascinated by the world of fashion but wasn’t sure how to turn that dream into reality. Taking a sewing class at Parsons was transformative. For the first time, I saw my sketches come to life as real garments—a moment of excitement and fulfillment that left a lasting impression. The process of translating my ideas into tangible creations showed me how sewing skills could bring my visions to life. That experience not only shaped my understanding of fashion design but also confirmed my determination to pursue it as a career.
2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?
During the photoshoot for my collection, our setup was simple, but we worked to maximize its potential. One key prop was a furry headpiece I made, paired with a fur comforter. Inspired by the headpiece, our photographer Yichen used it to frame the model, creating the illusion of a fierce, red, furry “eye” peering into the frame. This playful composition added depth and intrigue to the photos.
We also experimented by plucking fur from the comforter, tossing it into the air, and capturing it mid-motion. In the images, the falling red fur resembled flames, bringing dynamic energy to the visuals. This experience reminded me how small, simple props can transform into extraordinary elements through collaboration and creative vision.
3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?
For a sustainable project, I challenged myself to use only discarded materials. I sourced from the recycle bin, volunteered at FABSCRAP—a sustainable organization that collects and recycles unused materials from fashion companies—and gathered scraps and fibers left in the sewing studio.
Using these discarded materials, I created a long tuxedo jacket, a blazer, and cargo pants. To add versatility, I designed the garments to be transformable with zippers and Velcro. Some pieces could detach and recombine into functional bags, while the pants and jacket were designed to be self-packaged, eliminating the need for additional packaging.
This project taught me the potential of revitalizing discarded materials with creativity and effort. It showed that no scrap is truly waste and that upcycling can spark innovation. Since then, I’ve intentionally collected “waste” materials to create more sustainable designs.
4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?
Storytelling is at the core of my work, with fashion serving as a medium to narrate ideas and bring artistic visions to life. I believe garments can be transformative, designed to detach and reassemble, offering versatile styling possibilities from limited materials. This playful approach is central to my designs.
Sustainability is another key focus. I’m passionate about exploring biomaterials, upcycled waste, and methods that avoid pollution or excessive waste. Each project also challenges me to learn something new and create byproducts alongside my fashion collections, such as illustrations, 3D pop-up graphic books, or even video games. My goal is to fuse and connect different art forms, acting as a conductor to bring them together into a cohesive vision.
I believe this interdisciplinary approach, combined with my commitment to sustainability and transformative design, sets my work apart from other artists.
5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?
My primary goal for the upcoming year is to keep creating, as I believe the essence of creativity lies in a consistent working process. True innovation doesn’t emerge from stagnation. Looking ahead, my bigger aspiration is to establish my own label and brand. Through this, I aim to achieve greater visibility, connect with a broader audience, and collaborate with other talented artists. My vision is to continually push boundaries, share my aesthetic, and create playful, transformative garments that inspire and resonate with others.
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Makeup Artist: Shu
Fashion Designer/Creative Director/Retoucher: Jie Chen
Photographer: Yichen Zhou
Model: Michael Hazard
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Fashion by Jie Chen