SHOPPING & FASHION
SILK CUTS Ning Wang studied fashion design in Beijing before coming to Glasgow to do a Masters in fashion and textiles. The 23-year-old is about to show her silky collection of saturated colours and gold chains as part of the GSA degree show. Claire Sawers caught up with her for a chat
Can you describe your collection in i ve words? Surrealist silks, oversized, hip hop. What do you draw inspiration from? My kitsch collection of toys, including My Little Pony, Hello Kitty and dolls from Monster High and Bratzillaz. My partner Zhang Liang is an illustrator and we both share a passion for graphic novels, zines, hip hop and surrealism. What items from your collection will you be wearing yourself? If the garments were in my size, I’d love to wear them all. I would mix and match my colourful bomber jackets with hot pants and stockings. I would also wear my snapback caps, adorned with laser cut badges of my characters and complete the look with my printed bandanas. When you’re designing, what man and woman do you have in mind? My collection should be fun to wear. My ideal customer would be Pharrell Williams; someone who appreciates the richly patterned silks and a casual silhouette. How do the Beijing and Glasgow street styles differ? Glasgow is a fusion of different styles, combining vintage pieces with new. The fashion industry is developing fast in China – people in Beijing are embracing styles from America, Europe, Japan and South Korea. Can you explain the drawings on your silk bomber jackets? The imagery is drawn from the unconscious mind. Usually after a vivid dream, I try to capture the essence through ink drawings. These are developed into patterns, combining hand-drawn elements with illustrator software. What would be the dream outcome of this collection? Creating an intense aesthetic, and encapsulating my love of the kitsch and the surreal. What’s next? A week in Berlin to recharge my batteries and explore the city’s diverse culture and underground scene, then return to the UK to develop new textiles for a new collection.
The GSA Graduate Degree Show features work by all Masters students graduating this year, including ten MDes Fashion designers. It runs from 14–28 Sep; The Lighthouse, Mitchell Lane, Glasgow, Mon–Sat 10.30am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm, free entry. Ning Wang’s collection will be shown in three Fashion Promenades at The Lighthouse, Thu 26 Sep, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm, £10, gsa.ac.uk / pinkningwang.com
30 THE LIST 19 Sep–17 Oct 2013