BODY IN MOTION
BODY IN MOTION
Making the jump from designing menswear to womenswear would intimidate even the most experienced of fashion designers. But 23-year-old Mak rose to the challenge to create a collection that melded masculine tailoring with the exquisite use of fabrics. “At first, it was a real struggle for me because it was difficult for me to imagine a feminine look,” confessed the graduate of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. “But thanks to the judges and mentors who guided me, I quickly got the sense of it. I think being able to understand and visualise both aspects is the hallmark of a good designer.”
How did you start designing the collection?
I was looking through Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches on human anatomy and I was intrigued by his drawings of bone and muscle. I later researched medical books and gathered pictures showing microscopic views of muscles, bone structures and skin textures. I decided to translate those pictures into textiles. Contrasts and gradations formed the underlying concepts for the collection.
What else should we look out for?
The fabrics were made by combining opaque with sheer versions, like they were gradually going from hard bone to soft skin. I also modified colours from the expected red of blood to white, powder pink and lavender with hints of black.
What’s a word that sums up your design philosophy?
Sophisticated. Fabrics are very important to me. I always start with them before designing the garment.
