“It’s like, you can buy a ticket to a vibe,” says Shawna Wu, describing her presentations, that unlike your typical fashion affair, are more akin to performance art. Her most recent one took place last year at a night club in Taipei and involved a show by shibari (the art of Japanese rope bondage) artist SOA, a dance performance, and the on-site dying of her pieces — knotted harnesses and gossamer dresses, skirts and tops — with hawthorn berries. That night, Wu showcased and explored sexuality, the relationship between clothing and the body, and freedom of expression. For Wu, the presentation represents her approach to her eponymous label; one that underscores the symbiotic relationship clothing has with the world it exists within, rather than emphasising visual appeal or materialistic ownership.
“The end goal for the clothing is not to be bought, you know? I just don’t think putting it in a store is the last step,” she shares. “It’s more about how it makes a person feel. We all subconsciously pick up on textures. I think if I make this space, then you’re going to [experience] a new feeling. The problem with capitalism is mass production, and we all start to have the same material world. That’s boring — we deserve to have a world that’s not just about the same feelings.”
This story is from the August 2020 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2020 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Walking The Walk
MANOLO BLAHNIK remains one of the most covetable names in footwear. Now with more than five decades of history, the brand goes back to its beginnings to celebrate its most timeless silhouettes.
What Dreams May Come
Life as an actress can be an emotional roller coaster. Crazy Rich Asians star CONSTANCE LAU shares the highs, the lows, and everything else in between.
Just A Hint
Conspicuously More Understated Than Their Gem-set Cousins, These Subtle Rainbow-coloured Watches Are No Less Defiant In Their Insistence On Optimism And Style.
A cultural Conversation
With its Made of Makers programme, JAEGER-LECOULTRE has built a community of like-minded creatives who place innovation, craftsmanship and precision at the heart of all they do.
The Inner Lives Of Clothes
Compelling Fashion Doesn't Have To Be Ostentatious Or Overtly Conceptual, But It Does Need A Clear Identity And Character Of Its Own.
Journey to the WEST
Time to slip into some chaps and saddle up. Fashion's biggest brands are taking a turn at the rodeo.
The Mai Effect
Fresh off her cover shoot for ELLE Singapore-draped in head-turning Bvlgari jewels-Davika Hoorne radiates the charm and allure of a woman who's both wildly ambitious and perfectly content in her own skin. Here, the 32-year-old Thai-Belgian star reflects on two decades in the spotlight, and why she's not done dreaming just yet.
in Conversation
Cartier creative director MARIE-LAURE CÉRÈDE delves into the Maison’s haute joaillerie timepieces, while highlighting the importance of creativity and a happy team in her chat with CHARMAINE HO.
SPIRIT OF Samba
ENJOY A RIOTOUS NIGHT OUT WITH YOUR WELL-HEELED FRIENDS AT SUSHISAMBA SINGAPORE. COME FOR THE DRINKS AND STAY FOR THE REVELRYBUT DON'T FORGET TO DRESS THE PART.
OF WOMEN & SINGAPORE
From fashion trends that capture the cultural zeitgeist, to introspective opinion pieces about a life best lived, fashion historian NADYA WANG charts 31 years of ELLE Singapore history through its pages.
