MODA Designer Profile: Wendy Xiao

Feb 14

Feb 14 MODA Designer Profile: Wendy Xiao

Hey! I’m a 2nd year, visual arts/history double major. et’s be real nothing happens in my life but MODA, I can perfectly eat a chicken wing clean to the bone with chopsticks. Not a school-related commitment but an art that took me years to perfect.

Editor’s Note: Wendy edited all these pictures and requested they be posted in this form

What are some sources of inspiration for your collection?

I started with shoes because shoes are great! I also assumed that I would have to provide my own shoes for my final runway, and I would Never send my models out in clothes that don’t match their shoes. I used the shoes as a guide to anchor the colour palette of each of my looks. Then, each outfit kinda took on a life of their own. One is based on a phase of intense fixation on Peppa and Kermit, another based on this Chinese proverb about how lotuses blossom out of muddy water in beautiful pink, and another based off uh, my love for sexy suits. I tried to tie these looks together so I just started creating a lot of lore, like if these clothes could tell a story, there would be a whole wedding crashing scene, some murder perhaps, dramatic love confessions, all that good stuff. I also saw some rat memes and really wanted those to be a part of my collection, and here we are.

Have you ever done fashion design work before? What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process?

I have done a lot of fashion illustration and drawn clothing designs for fun. However, drawing clothing and making clothing is very different. I also knew that craft-related activities are not a strong suit of mine, but I was determined to do my best. Once I started the process, I ended up changing my designs quite a bit as I started to figure out fabrics, and what I am physically capable of pulling off with my 6 weeks of couture training. I think understanding the process of designing and sewing is super rewarding. Honestly, I think I look at clothes in a completely different way than I did before. My eyes have been opened. Wow!

What are you looking forward to most about the show?

I am looking forward to the food!

Who do you have in mind when you’re designing?

The narrative, mostly. Honestly, it isn’t even that important to the collection, I just need something to keep myself sane. I also think about my models a lot because I want the look to suit them as it is basically a mediocre couture experience. Sometimes I also think about how disappointed my dad would be if he found out that he’s been paying 25k a quarter for me to be doing this, and not doing like [checks palm], Econ 19800 Introduction to Microeconomics.

If you could give yourself any advice on the design process, what would you say to your younger self?

One thing that I noticed is that I subscribed to a lot of clothing conventions before starting my own design process. Nothing wrong with that, but for me, I think I repressed the urge to just make high concept postmodernist cosplay because I thought I had to follow a certain convention. Of course, having the agency to determine how my collection is made gave me a lot of confidence to explore a bit with possibilities. So, go wild, fashion is dumb and you can do whatever you want.

What’s your favourite aspect of the design process?

Drawing the designs, drawing multiple variations of the designs, and not worrying about how I actually have to make these looks later. Sewing is fun, but it’s so much work. Gods. I have so much respect for people who do this.