FIRST Issue 01
Exclusive Interviews with young designers
Beyond
Perfection How much would you pay for the price of beauty? BY: CLARA SIM DESIGNER: JANET WONG PHOTOGRAPHER:
TRISTA WONG CLEMENT CHAN MODEL: GLORIA WONG
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ANET WONG IS A SOPHOMORE majoring in Fashion Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (HK).
When I met up with her to discuss about her collection, she was huddled in the library and sketching stunning illustrations for one of her classes. The amount of work she was putting into those illustrations was the exact same as when I saw her a few weeks ago with her Apparel 1 garment. “Its about foot binding” she said, citing the old Chinese custom to bind a young girl’s feet to prevent it from growing. “When they desired beauty, they had to bind their feet in order to make them tiny as that was the perceived beauty at that time”. Foot binding originated around the 11th century in Imperial China and became a popular way to display a
“You can see how much they paid for beauty and perfection” woman’s status in life. It showed the world that the woman came from a wealthy family where she did not need to work and thus, was able to afford having her feet bound. This quickly became a symbol of beauty in China. “This is why for the top, I made a cross hatch smocking pattern so that it resembles foot binding - like bandages.” The top was beautifully made, with extensive attention to detail. One question though: why did she want to cover it with the cape? “I wanted to shock the old Chinese people” she reveals. “Traditionally, they wear long, huge and flowy sleeves, so I tried to create that look. Though when you take the cape off, you can see how much they paid for beauty and perfection with the tiny waist and the bandaged top”.
DESIGNER: JANET WONG PHOTOGRAPHER:
TRISTA WONG CLEMENT CHAN MODEL: GLORIA WONG
DESIGNER: JANET WONG PHOTOGRAPHER:
TRISTA WONG CLEMENT CHAN MODEL: GLORIA WONG
In Progress
Progress photos of collection ‘Beyond Perfection’ by Apparel 1 Fashion Design student Janet Wong from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Photos were taken by Janet.
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hen asked about the process of the final garment and if there were any difficulties she met with along the way, Janet had to take some time to think. “The collar”, she finally said. “I had some problems doing the collar. Its not like a normal collar. Half of it is connected to the neckline”. Adding to her list of difficulties, Janet mentioned the dress shape being one of them. “My theme was skinny, so I tried to make the
waist of my outer most dress to be curvy to have a perfect curved shape. So I tried different curves and had to do it several times to get the shape that I wanted”. With such commitment and thought put throughout this assignment, we wondered what Janet’s graduation plans were: even if it is two years away. “I want to be a wedding dress designer and set up my own brand”. Well if anyone were to be able to do it, it would definitely be Janet.
Creatures of
Underland Natural light shows found only in the darkest of oceans BY: CLARA SIM DESIGNER: Rebekah Scott PHOTOGRAPHER:
Ann Chih Brian Jim MODEL: GLORIA WONG
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EBEKAH SCOTT IS A sophomore majoring in Fashion Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (HK).
Everyone was cheering and clapping as Rebekah’s dress came to life during the photo shoot on Saturday. With a fan aimed strategically at the base of the dress, it looked as light as a feather as it flowed gracefully, almost as if it was underwater. “Bioluminescent deep sea creatures!” she exclaimed joyfully. “That was my inspiration”. Deep sea bioluminescence features spectacular underwater all natural light shows by the sea creatures themselves. These creatures have developed the ability to use chemicals within their bodies to produce light. “The day wear dress I made was specifically inspired by the glowing pattern inside a comb jellyfish’s body.
Most comb jellyfishes, or otherwise known as Ctenophora, lives near the surface and are mostly colourless and translucent. The deeper living species on the other hand, illuminates the dark waters with their blue or green glow. It is truly fascinating to see how Rebekah has taken this natural wonder and transformed it into a gorgeous design. “The skirt of the day dress was made by gathering several yards of fabric, causing it to be very flowy, a look that was inspired by the floating movement of a jellyfish”. And what of the pattern on the bodice? “That is a painting that was directly inspired by the glowing pattern inside a comb jellyfish’s body.
“Only days before the photo shoot, the entire pattern of the body was changed”
Creatures of ‘Underland’ Moodboard BY: Rebekah Scott
In Progress Progress photos of collection ‘Creatures of Underland’ by Apparel 1 Fashion Design student Rebekah Scott from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Photos were taken by Rebekah.
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very designer has moments of difficulties or problems when making their garments. We asked Rebekah if there were any such moments for her. “The main problems making this garment came from a lack of understanding of garment construction. Only days before the photo shoot, the entire pattern of the body was changed in order to support the skirt - a change I didn’t anticipate, that amounted to rushing and mistakes”. So with this in mind, was there anything that Rebekah would have liked to change if she could do this all over again? “The only thing I would have changed about my dress is the quality I was able to construct it with.
The execution of the dress is flawed in some ways, but I am happy with the way my concept was translated. While it may appear plain to everyone else, I will always know the exact beauty that inspired me and be proud of the outcome”. And proud she should be. The dress is a beautiful representation of the dark oceans and the white paint on the bodice elevates the design by bringing a sense of lightness that could easily be connected to the bioluminesenct sea creatures she was inspired by. “Creatures of ‘Underland’ is a luminescent jumble of whimsy and reality, but the kind of reality found miles underneath the sea”.