Wrote this piece as a ghostwriter for Xiawu Zheng; a fashion designer based in New York. Follow the “visit site” link below to see the finished article posted.
XIAOWU ZHENG
His name is Xiaowu Zheng. As an innovator, fashion is his medium. From an industry perspective, it’s his claim to fame. He may be young, but his designs have an undeniable wisdom expressed through clothing. Xiaowu has been on the scene for years creating, inspiring, and contributing his expertise to the fashion community as a whole. His exhibitions not only feature his work; it gives fashion enthusiast a peek into the creative recesses of his mind. Xiaowu Zheng is more than just a fashion designer, he’s a forerunner in the evolution of style.
How else can one describe Xiaowu Zheng?
Self-Driven. He studied design at Pratt Institute and graduated with a B.F.A in Fashion Apparel Design. Xiaowu is professionally trained in virtually every angle of the industry. His earlier works include a series of intimate collections and exhibitions throughout New York City. The first of his many works was ‘Karma’ his Fall 2018 Winter collection. He transformed casual wear, into free-formed pieces with unconventional hemlines, exaggerated measurements, and trad-English inspired patterns. The motivation of this collection was to break away for the dated gender role concepts, and adopt a more modern mindset to fashion. It pushes against societal pressures impressed upon people; making them feel trapped in their own minds. Each garment in this collection had a unique portrayal of being different and breaking free of the norm.
What followed next was his ‘47 Redesign project and exhibition. Xiaowu reinterpreted ‘47 deadstock apparel into very eclectic streetwear. From basic material, he created casual-cool futuristic fashion. There’s a distinct mood to Xiaowu’s brand, which he continues to carry throughout his career. His vision as a designer comes from a deep exploration of self. He confronted the darker corners of his psyche to express imagination and ingenuity in his designs.
Due to the state of the world, many can relate to mental battles that result in emotional angst. Xiaowu confronts his fears with fashion. ‘Psychotic’ (season, year) was his second collection. The pieces showed versatility in texture and a deep rich color palette. The full relaxed style of the silhouettes had unconventional ruching details and plush volumes. The large tailored suits with creative styling was a break from the monotony of conventional stiff structured tailoring.
“Man in the Corner” (season, year), is his third collection that followed. The mood was dreamlike and surreal. The pieces are creatively designed with silver garment accents throughout. Floral patterns added softness to the deconstructed work shirts and leather textiles. It’s expressive and lush with otherworldly design elements. Xiaowu continues to brave the dark side of humanity in his work. His talent for taking the mundane and transforming it into art is a skill most designers have yet to fine tune. He is definitely not afraid of thinking outside the box.
Xiaowu Zheng is always evolving in his work. He continues to push the limits of fashion and break barriers, while still staying true to his vision. ‘First of Seven’ (season, year) is his fourth collection. The styles are compelling with a sustainable neutral toned color palette. Each fabric choice is reminiscent of muslin, and has a free deconstructed approach. The silhouettes have size-versatility and transeasonal design. There’s an organic, sophisticated, yet chic style aesthetic to this collection.
His collections continue to be featured in exhibitions like This is How I Felt, PIS Slow Design Pop-up , Art Teleported, The Latitude Gallery, and Cultural Lab. Fashion is essentially walking art. Xiaowu can communicate easily with the public through his fashion because he understands what moves the world. The new wave of fashion is gender bias, and expressive. He can relate to the influencers of now, and make collections that people can reflect on.