Interview with Yina Hwang

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Yina spent most of her childhood with her trade-merchant father in the factory district of Yiwu, China. Growing up in an industrial city meant that the streets, factories and markets became her source of artistic inspiration. Yina’s upbringing in Yiwu, where she was exposed to merchants from around the world, helped her to develop an understanding of manufacturing systems and sales, and also broadened her awareness of global markets.
As Yina’s curiosity about “what is beautiful” grew, she started going back and forth to visit her artist mother, who is a poet and a theater actress in Seoul. The disparity between these two very different cities and environments was stimulating, and what was what helped her to arrive at her own unique interpretation of beauty. At the very first beginning, she was into fine art. When she was 15, she asked her parents for the first time that she wants to learn something- that was fine art. Her high school teacher used to be very supportive to her and gave her a bunch of art related books, materials and a key to a private studio at school. She had natural interest in styling clothes since she was very young and she found connection between art and fashion. She attended Parsons School of Design for as fashion design major. In 2016, she had her first debut during school at Fusion Fashion Show, that was judged and awarded by a panel of experts, including Large of Paper Editor Pater Davis, Gap Inc. men’s trend and concept global director Damien Nunes, Teen Vogue fashion consultant Mary Kate Steinmiller, Bill Blass creative director Chris BenzAfter gradation. After graduation from Parsons, she spent two seasons on developing her project “Utopia” and had her first Fall 2020 collection debut during NYFW, and earned recognition as a creative designer by winning A’ Design Award this April.

1. practicality and functionality 2.aesthetic 3.creativity

I get a lot different emotions. I get excitements, but at the same time, I am serious because making clothes need accurate measurements and techniques. I need to make sure to make the best fit and outcomes for the wearers. But I enjoy the whole process of it.

I think learning languages definitely helped me shape me as a designer. My native language is Korean and I learned English and Chinese while I grew up. When I visit fabric markets and factories in China, New York and Seoul, speaking local languages helped the communication. Also, I got a lot of cultural inspirations from those countries.

My dream design project is to make creative studio and all different kinds of creative activities are allowed. I want to combine fashion, art, music maybe even food together into this creative studio. And do different types of artistic projects with the team members and connect it with business.

Be adaptive to changes, Always be open for critics.

Normally when I work on a collection, everyday I pin inspiration and reference images on a big board. Also I put fabric swatches and trims on the side. I start my day by listening to music and go through organizing those boards and go over thinking what I have to do on the day.

I do think that design trend matters but only following the trend without any originality would make the brand have no identity. I think it is important to balance your originality and the trend at the same time.

I evaluate good design based on 1. Aesthetic 2. Creativity 3. Practicality and Functionality

I make a lot of prototypes before making the final outcome. By making samples, I know what to fix and after all the alterations, I know the design is ready to be produced with the final selected materials.

My "Utopia" project. Because everything including the fabrics is original. 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. When I saw the final lineup, and when I had the runway show during fashion week, it gave me the most satisfaction.

Dries Van Noten is a designer who always surprises and inspires me with his collection every season. The beautiful and harmonious combination of the prints and the silhouettes of the garments always inspire me.

I live in NYC and it's culture is a big part of my creative process.

When I select project partners, I have to have a deep understanding of their work and they need the same for me too. I like to work as a team. When I design, I like to take my time to develop designs myself, but also I have a lot of conversation my collaborators for the best outcomes. Communication is very important.

I have hope that my creative work will bring energy and joy to people's lives and contribute to a healthier world. I want people to wear my garments and love how they look, take on the day with confidence.

Generally I like all creative activities, and I think designing fashion products allows me to be the most creative.

I chose to become a designer. When I was young, my parents used to let me try learning many different musical instrument and other things but I always felt no interest in it. When I was 15, I naturally got into art and design. Then I decided to get professional education so I moved to New York and attended Parsons.

I want to design clothes and fashion items that does not get influenced by trends. I want to create designs that never gets old.

I would like to tell young designers to never lose your passion, passion allows you to keep moving forward. Don't be afraid of critics. Be adaptive to changes!

I think good designer makes a good looking object and a great designer makes objects that is not only good looking, but also that considers the user's needs, and highly functional.

I evaluate good design based on 1. practicality and functionality 2.aesthetic 3.creativity

Because good design upgrades your lifestyle. Good lifestyle brings you happiness.

I would love to design clothes for Björk. She is a big inspiration for me and I think it would be a really beautiful project to interpret her message into garment pieces.

I want to make a creative studio where diverse creatives can gather and work together.

I think I have three recipes: Be adaptive to changes, Always be open for critics, Find good references!

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 always inspire me.

I like the printed gray faux leather jacket from the "Utopia" Collection. Because I think it is one well-constructed jacket that shows the creativity and functionality at the same time. I successfully transferred my art collage work into pattern making. Also it feels pretty comfortable on the body even though it is a leather-like material.

I am always open to critics. I like to listen to other people's idea. Because design is meant to be shared to upgrade people's life and happiness, it's not just an art, others' idea is very important as well.

I am into cooking and food plating. I think I would have become a chef. I like getting creative with food, and I like to cook for people.

I think design is the creative activities and processes that is done to realize certain purposes into a certain visual/physical form.

My biggest supporters are my family and friends around me.

I met my mentor in my life when I was living in China. He was 100% supportive to me and kept reminding me of "different way of thinking". For my "Utopia" collection,

Before I was indecisive in my execution. Now I have a better eye to make right decision.

I think designers should be able to present their work in any form they like. Online presentation, public presentation, runway, exhibition .. in a professional way.

I am brainstorming on a project, with my like-minded friend and a partner Elle Haein Kim. We are working on a project that reflects our Korean heritage that is interpreted in our own way.

I want to upgrade people's life and happiness and help create a more beautiful world.

I think people expect the consistency in work.

Design improves people's lives and happiness which naturally helps create a better society.

I am brainstorming on a project, with my like-minded friend and a great partner Elle Haein Kim. We are working on a project that reflects our Korean heritage that is interpreted in our own way.

My "Utopia" project. Because everything including the fabrics is original. 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. When I saw the final lineup, and when I had the runway show during fashion week, it gave me the most satisfaction.

I would love to see more diverse sustainable materials in design industry.

I think design field is going to be based on the individual's lifestyle. ADD MORE

It depends on each project. Short term projects can take up to a week, and long-term projects can go years.

I start with an inspiration and make a narrative story, and I decide colors and fabrics.

Balance and harmony are two important words for me as a designer.

I think the trendsetting magazines or companies present each season's trend by suggesting certain styles and design comes after it. But in order for that, there has to be designs before trend. So it makes sense both ways.

Technology allows me to realize my design into physical forms. I like to create print fabrics with different technologies.

I like mixing physical sketches and paintings with digital tools such as photoshop and Illustrator. For this project, I used a broken scanner to create effects on the prints.

Color and materials decides the mood of the design.

I wish people to ask me about the process of the design and production.

My ideal design partner will be someone that's like-minded, creative and have similar design taste as me. I do believe in co-design.

My like-minded and creative friends are my biggest inspirations and they give the most influence on my design.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty covers McQueen's early work to the latest one. This book talks about his life story as a person and a designer. I was impressed and fascinated by his creativity and commitment for his work. This book has inspired me a lot.

Professional education and design work experiences in fashion and production industry.

I want to talk to Bill Gates and ask him what secret he knows about the future of the humanity.

I feel thrilled and motivated when my work wins awards and get recognitions. It is hard to get a recognition, but once you get it, it feels like all the hard work has paid off.

Black, my studio in Upper East Side, Sashimi, Summer, my Bluetooth speaker and Dries Van Noten,

When the final outcome comes out just as I designed and when my work get recognition, I feel very rewarded and motivated.

I was always a playful and creative child will a lot of energy. I loved styling myself based on concepts. And I used to love taking pictures and make little editorials. I knew I would be doing a creative job when I grew up.

That is a very interesting question and I love it. Because I think about it a lot. People in 1020 had a very different life from now. I think in 3020, technology will improve so much and people will live an easier life. There will be a lot of jobs we have now that might disappear in the future and also there will be new jobs as well. Whether to make the future earth beautiful place to live or not, depends on us.

Yina Hwang is a New York based fashion and lifestyle product studio. In her Fall 2020 collection, Yina Hwang presented 20 looks collection along with a series of bags, accessories and a tent during New York Fashion Week,

For me, design is fulfilling people's aesthetic and practical needs, upgrading people's life and happiness.

I love to design fashion products with a strong concept. It is always a fun process to interpret a concept into a highly functional design objects.

My favorite design of mine is this look with the the satin lavender&silver asymmetric blouse styled with printed faux leather pants with chain decorations from “Utopia Collection”. I love the construction, silhouette and colors of each piece and overall it reflects my soft and bold personalities at the same time.

The first thing I designed for a company was a two piece cream tweed coat and a dress set that was custom made for an independent buyer.

Lately I love making printed fabrics and I used them in my latest collection. In "Utopia" collection, I used digital print. Every print and fabric in the project is original and she mainly used PU leather, Satin, Power Mash, and Spandex for the base of the fabrics.

I feel the most creative when I am spending time with like-minded friends. People around me are my biggest inspirations.

When I design clothes, I focus on the fit, color and fabric combinations.

I get a lot different emotions. I get excitements, but at the same time, I am serious because making clothes need accurate measurements and techniques. I need to make sure to make the best fit and outcomes for the wearers. However, I enjoy the whole process of it!

I feel very rewarded, it feels like my mind and body is full of euphoria when my designs are realized.

For fashion products, I think the good fit, comfortable fabric and right design and functions based on user's need are the keys to make a design successful.

I see if it is an aesthetically good looking design or not. And functionality is as important as an aesthetic.

I think designers are responsible about the global environmental issues. We need to definitely think about the most sustainable way for producing the products.

I think in the future, designs are going to be more based on the 1:1 user experience. Maybe they can read your thoughts and emotions and provide the right thing for you.

I had my recent fashion show in February in New York during NYFW. I am possibly doing another project with a partner and at I think we will be having a presentation at the end of the project. To Be Announced!

I find inspirations from people around me and through my personal experiences. I always try to fill my life with fun and inspiring episodes through trying new things and traveling. "The most personal is the most creative" this is a quote I like.

I like to put chic, elevated and emotional elements in my design. I want people to feel the energy when they see and wear my design, how they interpret it is up to each wearer.

I live in Manhattan, New York. The old and modern buildings, streets, diverse people and culture.. the inspiration is everywhere in the city and I love it! New York definitely has influenced my designs.

It depends on what type of project I am doing with companies. But one thing I can say is I have a lot of meetings and conversations about the design and development with the team during the working process.

As an example, to start my "Utopia" collection, I self-experimented by going towards the other end of the spectrum of what society views as “perfect” by using surgery tape to distort my physical appearance to lay down the foundation of what I will be creating. The distortion led to the collages. The collages led to the prints which also created the silhouettes to my initial prototypes.

My custom made huge work table, Paintings on the wall, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, Life size tiger doll and my sofa.

Normally when I work on a collection, everyday I pin inspiration and reference images on a big board. Also I put fabric swatches and trims on the side. I start my day by listening to music and go through organizing those boards and go over thinking what I have to do on the day.

Don't be afraid to show your talent and ideas to the world, we are all making the world a more beautiful place to live. This is what I always tell myself too.

I think both positives and negatives of being a designer is that you always think about work. I started fashion design because it's fun at the beginning, but when it becomes "job", things are not always enjoyable. So I always remind myself that this is what I like and what I always wanted. I am blessed to do it.

Follow your intuition, and always be adaptive to changes, open to other people's idea.

I think the ability to realize the abstract idea to the final outcome, understanding wearer's needs is very important for a designer.

I like mixing physical sketches and paintings with digital tools such as photoshop and Illustrator. For this project, I used a broken scanner to make effects on the prints.

I write down what I have to achieve every week, and the rest of the plan is flexible.

It depends, but when I develop my full collection, it takes about one season from design to final production.

"What is your purpose as a designer?" I always answer "I just want to be a part of the things that make the world more beautiful"

One of my most important job experiences I had is when I worked at Jonathan Simkhai as a design intern. I had a chance to work closely with the lead designers of the team. I learned a lot about product development and had opportunities to participate in some of the fun projects.

People who had been following and supporting my design for years now are mostly creatives who love art and fashion.

I like designs that are pleasing to the eye, and functional at the same time. For example, there can be a clothing rack that looks like an art statue, and it's functional at the same time.

I want to collaborate and work for companies and gain more team work experiences. At the same time, I would like to continue new creative projects!

I like to work as a team. When I design, I like to take my time to develop designs myself, but also I have a lot of conversation my collaborators for the best outcomes. I have good friends who always inspire me, and conversation with them always make everything better.

I am brainstorming on a project, with my like-minded friend and a partner Elle Haein Kim. We are working on a project that reflects our Korean heritage that is interpreted in our own way.

People can contact me through my email: yinahwangstudio@gmail.com or through Instagram Direct Message at @yinahwang_studio