I think wonder is the basis of worship. My inspiration is the honeycomb, a structure unique to the creative powers of bees. They build strong, systematic and nurturing honeycombed hives, similar to how humans construct objects for protection, be it clothing or architecture. The fusion of geometric, architectural and biological forms coming together on a human body is to question: why are we not fighting for Mother Nature if we humans are so passionate self-preservation and protection? Beeing Human aims to convey an environmental message, encouraging people to rethink our relationship with nature by joining the dots.

3D printing is integrated to show how technology can be a design medium, democratizing fashion. This is a fresh way to push boundaries for aesthetics and culture as well as production and performance.

Different fabrication technologies were used in creating these outfits; various plastic materials are printed together with silicone castings. These are 'made-to-order', avoiding wasteful mass production methods. These parts will be manually sewn together.

By juxtaposing the automative with traditional, we remind audiences that we are all connected deep down. Woven/knitted materials are not limitations; defined silhouettes are superseded by new visual experiences that are avant-garde and whimsical.

This capsule collection is kindly sponsored by Takasago, Swarovski and Converse.

Design Team

Fashion Artist: Jamela Law
Consultant: Lionel Wong

For every new work, I wish to explore limits of fabrication process and find ways to achieve breakthroughs. 3D printing removes barriers to resources and skills that had previously prevented generations of designers from realizing their ideas. We can now easily explore intricate forms and futuristic silhouettes by playing with complex mathematical formulas and novel geometries. Additionally, my garments can be designed, personalized and manufactured in conjunction with complementary technologies such as 3-D scanning.

Software used include the Rhinoceros 3D, as well as plug ins such as T-spines and Grasshopper. The computer helps calculate and build certain structures on behalf of me, by using algorithms that the designer has set. Grasshopper is preferred because it automates the modeling process for high complexity designs. Such designs have structures with repeated elements and they can all follow the same specific rules. One can thus simultaneously manipulate a group of lines together and create a variety of shapes by simply altering the codes and even go further by combining data and algorithms.

Personally, I feel that the ready to wear market is quite saturated and exhausted. My goal is to redefine fashion as a form as art and show that it can be poetic, artistic and multi-disciplinary.

There are quite a number of innovative methods used in this collection. For instance, gravity casting is used to mass produce silicone tiles by using just a few 3D printed negative molds. These skin friendly silicone tiles act as waterproof, strong and elastic haberdashery rarely seen in the field of fashion.

My choice of using 3D printing to fabricate my projects also aims to bring into awareness that these new technologies could be a sustainable alternative to conventional sweatshop practices and large scale industrial wastage. Not all plastics are harmful to the environment, as long as one recycles them correctly. I used a biodegradable 3D printing filament called BioFila Silk that is based on lignin, which is derived from wood to build some of my elements. Not only is it a renewable raw material, it has a higher hardness value which makes it more durable. Now think, if silk could be printed aesthetically, we could stop boiling silkworms alive just for the sake of obtaining that perfect, long strand and use choppy, ethically obtained leftover ones instead. Additionally, I am a recyclopath. Almost every element will be reused, up-cycled and recycled. I have recently won Levi's Denim Design contest using my leftover 3D printed supporting filaments, further supporting my initial objective.

A range of closures are also considered, such as corset lacing, eyelets, ball joints, hooks, etc. Shoulder straps are designed to be adjustable and thus able to conform to different body shapes and sizes.

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