I was fortunate enough to have been invited to a fashion showcase featuring design talents around Asia several weeks ago. Curated by local art gallery The Space, Fashion Collective is focused on discovering new talents that highlight contemporary Asian design.
For experimental and
daring fashion lovers, Creature de Keis is
your answer to androgynous clothing. Deconstruction is the key element that designer
Kei Hui adopts for his namesake label founded in 2006.
It was a great
pleasure to have him introduce his line piece-by-piece; slowly unraveling his
rather complicated yet strikingly tailored designs. He explains, “I don’t
usually have a sketch. What I normally have is an organic idea of what [it]
could look like.” Hui goes on to describe that his joy derives from draping “on
the mannequin” and that it’s this experimentation that allows him to discover
new forms.
Indeed, his ‘other-worldly’ creations no doubt provoke a reaction. In my case, it’s one of bewilderment and delight. Trying on one of the outerwear pieces made completely of mesh; I looked at the mirror thinking how amazing this androgynous piece looked (hello, narcissism). The curious ruffles at the back made for a nice surprise; even more so when Hui turned it around and made it into a collar! Nevertheless, his playful approach to design has earned him quite a reputation in the Hong Kong fashion circle.
For those looking for
wardrobe essentials, look no further – Hong Kong-based House of V has it down to the wire with clean, simple silhouettes
and a pure design aesthetic.
While I initially
assumed it was a play on the name ‘V for Vendetta’, it’s no coincidence that
the name of the house was actually named after their key motif. Thomas Kung,
head designer of the brand, explains, “The V is actually a key part of our
aesthetic. Simple geometry and a harmonious balance is what we try to achieve
in our designs.”
It’s quite apparent seeing all the minimal pieces on the rack, with a beautifully tailored fall collection featuring graphic elements and plaid. Also worth mentioning is the ‘balance’ that Kung earlier explained; this season focusing on the juxtaposition of different fabrics such as cashmere and various grades of wool to create a rich palette of textures.
However, the
attention to detail is what truly sets this collection apart. I was truly
impressed when the overcoat I was holding exposed a neat little pocket in the
sleeve, tucked underneath the shawl-like opening which fanned out, you guessed
it, in their signature ‘V’. Other pieces like the silver and white top had an
elegant fastener sewed at the seam of the front panel.
Their philosophy “Simplicity is the ultimate [in] sophistication” paves the way
for the death of fast-fashion and the divergence from flashy trends to subtle
elegance. Let’s hope this phenomenon arrives sooner than later!
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