We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Yina Hwang about their original and creative Womenswear Collection design work. Yina Hwang is an award-winning fashion designer, that makes our world a better place with their original womenswear collection works.
Yina Hwang ("YH") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Utopia Womenswear Collection. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
YH : I started my first fashion job in 2013 and worked for a womenswear designer at a small atelier. I earned my BFA degree in fashion design program at Parsons School of Design. I have worked in New York, China and South Korea in fashion design, sales and wholesale departments. Fashion companies including Jonathan Simkhai, Lie Sang Bong and more. I had my first collection debut at Fusion Fashion Show in 2016. In 2020, I showcased my first Fall Collection during New York Fashion Week.
YH : I wanted this project to embody my life story and emotions. At the same time, I focused on the garment constructions and fabric prints.
YH : I would love to collaborate with different photographers and stylists for editorial projects.
YH : I started brainstorming for this project in the summer of 2018, and kept developing the design with lots of printing tests until March. Production was done in April 2019.
YH : I like to embody my life story into designs. My first ever collection was in 2016, for Fusion Fashion Show and it shows who I was at that time. I wanted to produce a collection that captures who I am right now. WHO ARE YOU RIGHT NOOW?
YH : All the prototypes are produced by me and the final outcome is produced through a production company.
YH : The best way for me to express myself is through making fashion garments and related products. I enjoy the process of the production. It is fun to combine my inspiration and creativity into a “clothing” form.
YH : Dries Van Noten is a designer who always surprises and inspires me with his collection every season. The beautiful and harmonious color combinations of prints, the silhouettes of the garments.. I respect his work a lot and it made me think of an idea to make my own unique prints for the "Utopia" collection.
YH : Creative people who are driven by heart, people who know what they want, not just following the trend.
YH : Unique fabrics, patterns and the concept.
YH : This project aims to break down the wearer’s restriction for the freedom of expression, and help the wearers bring out their own spirits. My ideal Utopia. I wanted
YH : Scanner, Paints, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
YH : Some of the garments can transform the shapes by attaching/detaching fabric panels using snaps.
YH : I collaborated with a printing and a production company in South Korea and China.
YH : Having technology, I was able to make my own print on the fabric, and production
YH : I wanted to address the social issue regarding the unrealistic expectation from the society about people's "perfect" beauty. Everyone is beautiful the way they are by embracing imperfections and driving towards an ideal utopia. This idea has initiated my researches on the related social issues and laid down the foundation of what I will be creating.
YH : The challenge was getting the right prints on the right fabric. Every fabric has a different result of prints and has a different approach to sewing. I went through a series of fabric tests and garment prototypes to reach the final result.
YH : I wanted to share my work with the global audience.
