River to Ocean 全性別時裝系列 by Qiongxin Kou and Yiyao Nie

River to Ocean 全性別時裝系列 by Qiongxin Kou and Yiyao Nie is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 時裝、服飾及成衣設計 Competition Category.

銀時裝· 2021

River to Ocean 全性別時裝系列

by Qiongxin Kou and Yiyao Nie

Client: Yiyao Nie & Qiongxin Kou

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 時裝 Category

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Colors

The Design

About River to Ocean 全性別時裝系列

《River to Ocean》係一個涵蓋六款造型嘅全性別時裝系列。系列分為三個主題，分別叫做「遇見花朵」、「遇見空氣」同「遇見大地」。每個主題包括一款女裝造型同一款男裝造型，採用相同版型但配以唔同色調。層次、褶飾同細緻嘅手工花朵細節，賦予服裝流動嘅動感。設計師研發咗訂製布料，並透過一套全新嘅布料處理手法重用剩餘布碎，避免浪費。帽子同其中一件背心以樹脂3D打印製成，再由人手組裝成可穿戴嘅雕塑作品。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

River to Ocean 全性別時裝系列是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主，這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品，展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計River to Ocean 全性別時裝系列將成為一件出色的典範之作，兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明，造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。River to Ocean 全性別時裝系列是一件令人羨慕的創作，它喚起渴望，帶來積極的情感，並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This capsule collection contains 6 looks in total, and it was divided into 3 themes which are “Meet with flowers”, “Meet with air”, and “Meet with earth”, which are also three metaphorical elements as one’s diverse experience in life to help him/her to see the true self. Each theme is made up of one female look and one male look in the same pattern but different color palettes.
Dimensions & Packaging: This all-gender collection has 3 womenswear looks and 3 menswear looks, size medium.
Tags: Haute couture and technology, textile design, 3d new media art, sustainable design, human well-being, social mental care, 3D printed Design, Sculptures
Production Technology: We created our own fabrics for flower and air themes, and always keep in mind to develop collections in different sustainable ways. In this one, Kou explored a way to zero waste the fabrics by a new fabric manipulation method. Traditionally, zero waste has been more adopted on garments’ constructions, but since Kou is always interested in textile design, she turned her attention on fabrics themselves at this time and created a new form of fabric which could not only re-use leftover fabric pieces but also presented them into an abundant mix-textured quality piece. The constructions in this collection are romantically dynamic. Layerings, pleats, and a hint of ruffles gave each look a fluid movement, and while the fabrics were flowing, people could see small flower details swaying with them together which were hand made and attached on different spots on the garment. In addition to the textile and couture techniques, some pieces in this collection were created with 3D technique by Nie.
The hats in flower theme and the vest in theme air are 3D modeled in superstructural constructions to mimic different forms in moments of how water drops on flowers or collide with rocks. They were printed with white resin in this collection and will be printed in clear color materials with different sizes furtherly.
The hats in flower theme and the vest in theme air are created and designed in 3D software first, then 3d printed into small parts using resin materials, and finally painted and assembled by hand as a wearable sculpture.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge here is to transform the new media art form of sculpture into a wearable comfortable fashion hat and vest.
3D artist Yiyao Nie firstly created and designed the look of hat and vest in 3d software, and then discussed and adjusted with fashion designer Qiongxin Kou to make it closer to a comfortable piece ready to wear. The vest is designed and broken down into small pieces, easy to freely assemble to different forms, giving the vest a more dynamic look.
Research: This collection is a collaboration between fashion/textile designer Qiongxin Kou and 3d artist/creative technologist Yiyao Nie. We both are very interested in the theme of nature and humans inside nature. Starting the research by getting inspiration from nature itself, we travel and feel it. The pure and raw emotion from our heart about our own life in the world is the key string in this collection.
This cross-field collaboration between fashion and new media art gives us more creative ideas and the ability to remember and freeze our feeling or emotion about life in time, like the journey of “River To Ocean”, seeing who you are while flowing your way. In fact, to accept self or see who we really are is the most challenging thing in life, as been told by Kou's father who has been working in psychology for over 20 years, many people use their whole lives to compromise with themselves, to heal the pain they got from childhood hard memories or frustrating time that had destroyed their confidences. To know, to see and to accept oneself could create beautiful moments in life, this principle will release so much pain and build so much courage and brightness, and this goal forms the essential thought for this collection.
Inspiration: “River To Ocean”, seeing who you are while flowing your way. This concept is a metaphor to illustrate the moment in a life that one who finally finds a true self throughout his/her past experiences. As a Chinese proverb has been said, “The small me meets the big me” which means that we will bravely face up to and accept true selves throughout what we’ve experienced.
Project Duration: “River To Ocean”is made for and showcased in London Fashion Week 2020 F/W. It started from December 2019, and ends up February 2020. The whole making process had been done in New York and California.
Operation Flow: This collection is in a fresh color palette and various soft fabric types. The 3D printing pieces are in big silhouettes but fairly light weight. When you wear the garments, you’ll not only have a comfortable touch on fabrics but also will be amazed by the hand made textile details around your body. With putting on the 3D printing piece, you can flexibly move but need to pay attention to things around you due to its volume structure.
Patents: Qiongxin Kou
Yiyao Nie
Team Members: Fashion/Textile Designer: Qiongxin Kou
3D Artist/Creative Technologist: Yiyao Nie
Image Credits: Qiongxin Kou
Yiyao Nie