"The First Seven" Fashion Collection

The First Seven refers to performing the rituals 7 days after the deceased passed away. In this period, relatives must procure salvation for the deceased, to help them to accumulate blessings. This collection takes inspiration from Chinese mythology, Old Hong Kong Horror movies, and Historical events such as Tiananmen Square Protest to speak out on the importance of freedom of speech and the freedom of making art itself. This fashion collection is a reflection on the mindset of art for arts sake. The collection aims to stir up viewers and wearer’s emotion with the ghostly and dramatic silhouette. It is a discussion on the censorship that exists in our society. By revisiting the history to reflect the issues that are currently active in the modern day, raising awareness on the importance of voicing opinions and independent thinking, to help move the culture forward by starting a healthy conversation. For the textiles, the collection uses technical film to permanently heat glue gold paper on top of solid linen fabric as applicate to create a shiny effect to resembles paper clothing and money that Chinese people would burn to send good wishes to the dead. Fragile mesh are being layered on top of linen fabric as a discussion between the temporal body and the eternal soul. Prints on the silk scarfs are digitally printed, which contains newspaper collage and drawings done by Children that dedicated to the Tiananmen Square protest. The hair being sewn throughout the seams are inspired by the sorcery scare of the 1768 soul stealers panic, when people believe that witches could to take a soul by having name and hair from people. The Silhouettes resembles deconstructed historical Chinese clothing from the Qing dynasty, the cheongsam originated from the republican period, the classic Chinese tunic suit that Mao wore, and wardrobe of the protesters. No patterns were reused twice throughout this collection, all the garments came from the process of draping, which added the feel of random and natural with the complicated construction.