Today we catch up with Ziqing Zhou, MA Fashion Design Technology Menswear, who describes her garments as masculine, sexy, blue, exclusive and intelligent. Ziqing will be showcasing her collection on 8/2/15, watch the live stream on the LCFMA16 page.
Photography by Felix Cooper and styling by Anders Sølvsten Thomsen
Tell us about your final collection?
My collection attempts to create a breakthrough and bring a distinctive sexiness to classic tailoring based on a subtly open, broken, remixed look of the body structure. By giving extension to different parts of the garment such as waist and hips, a re-defined body is created.
My aim was to create an abnormal garment to represent the ‘new-normal’ in the fashion world. I thought the abnormality of the garment could be regarded as a part of normality which probably was beyond people’s understanding. That’s why I was trying to go back to the garment-carrier: the human body or ‘the host’ in order to redefine the body as a ‘host’ and redesign the garment for its ‘host’.
At the same time, I didn’t want to abandon normality so the classic deep-rooted elements of menswear such as a tailored suit, white shirt, ties and cufflinks were kept alive in my final collection. Despite the fact that I generated, recreated, redefined and bodily-imitated them, I believe they are still functional and wearable.
Where did you study prior to your MA at LCF?
I studied BA Menswear and Womenswear in China then I came to LCF to do the Grad dip in Fashion Design Technology then I went onto the MA Menswear course.
Reflecting back on your MA, and thinking of any prospective students thinking about starting an MA, what would be your top three tips to them?
Know what you want to do and how you want to do it. Don’t go too far from your ideas, don’t let people change your mind too much. Everyone wants to come here and follow their dreams and they may allow others to advise them in order to reach those dreams but I would say that you shouldn’t let people influence you too much.
Why did you choose LCF and MA Menswear?
I didn’t want to do anything else but this because I have done it since I was a child. After finishing my BA, I felt like it wasn’t enough for me so I wanted to further develop my potential. I thought I could do more and I think London is a really fashionable city and I always dreamt of coming here to do fashion. I love what I do – it is the only thing I will never give up on – although I do like other things – fashion is the most important to me.
What have you found the most enjoyable and interesting parts of your course? And what have you found the most challenging?
Throughout this process, I came across a lot of problems because of the difficult topic I chose. One day I would look at my collection and not like it and then, another day, I’d like it. It was a great process because when I found something I didn’t like, I would work on it and I think that this was good because it allowed me to improve and you can’t always be satisfied all the time. Plus it makes it more of an exciting process.
What was your favourite thing about studying in London?
I think London is full of fashion and it gives me so many ideas – the whole city is like a research book. When I am back home, the feeling isn’t as strong.
Have you won any prizes?
In Shanghai, during my time studying my BA – I won a prize for underwear design.
Describe your work in five words…
Masculine, Sexy, Blue, Exclusive, Intelligent
Do you have a muse? If so, who and why?
Vivienne Westwood. I met her when I was still in China and that was a big moment for me – meeting her was a dream come true. Meeting her gave me the strength to continue with my work and to come here and study. I think that when you have a dream and you meet someone you want to do as great, it motivates you even more.
What are your future plans and how do you think the course will help you to realise these plans?
I want to have my own brand but I want to get experience so I want to get a job because I understand working is different from learning!
- Watch the Menswear live stream 8/01/16 10:30GMT
- Read more about the MA season of events
- Postgraduate courses at LCF
- Postgraduate Open Days at LCF
- Meet the graduates in our LCFMA16 Graduate Spotlight series
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- Photography by Felix Cooper and styling by Anders Sølvsten Thomsen