We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xiaoke Zhu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Xiaoke, thanks for joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

I felt very desperate when my mentor asked me to overturn and redo the whole project when it was close to the deadline, but after the experience it was as if my whole being was on a higher level, I was more calm, peaceful and organized and it also gave me a stronger heart to face the uncertainty of the future.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a menswear designer and I’ve always been a fan of less is more design and my own work adheres to this design philosophy. Over the years of learning to be a designer, we have gone from not knowing how to sew a simple shirt to being able to make complex and even ” show-off ” garments on our own. After learning various techniques and layering elements, I eventually began to subtract. Now I spend more time thinking about how to reflect the most interesting design in the most detailed places, such as how to make the structure of the garment more exquisite but not too exaggerated, how to choose the most suitable fabric to match the design, how to cut and reuse the fabric in the least wasteful way, and so on. I believe that fashion does not only belong to the runway, but sustainable fashion that can satisfy the majority of people is more meaningful.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think there could be more opportunities for independent designers, design students or young people who are self-taught in design, such as scholarships or internships, so that they can enter the circle with less pressure.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When I see my designs being complimented by strange models and asking if they are for sale, the encouragement from strangers is very exciting and gives me more confidence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://2022.gsapostgradshowcase.net/xiaoke-zhu/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sltoneeee.910/
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

design work