There are many paths that lead to the final of a design contest. One of those scenarios is to stay true to yourself, and instead of thinking about what the jury wants to see, you decide to go for the essence of your creative being and present a concept that you have built for years. Accordingly, the young designer Jae Woo Lee, who studied at Parsons The New School for Design, found herself among the finalist of the ITS fashion competition by making the most of her painting and drawing classes, which she started attending at the age of nine.
A flaw transformed into an advantage, the visible seams are the trademark of this collection. In this case, the “unfinished” stitching is there not as an error that needs to be kept hidden, but, on the contrary, it was turned into an unconventional ornament. And this is not the end of surprises. The patchwork technique is applied in a slightly different manner, resulting in the geometric, 3D forms in black, white and yellow, with a pop of blue and powder pink. Furthermore, the ubiquitous panels seem to “hang” as bold adornments, converting the garments into wearable pieces of art. Incomplete in some parts, many dresses look like they are on a break with the designer, or as if they were wittingly torn apart to make place for another solution. Or to stay just the way they are.
Aug. 20, 2014
Harrington College of Design
University of Cincinnati
Academy of Design Australia
Shenkar
LOFT 42
SBID
