Recent Knitwear for Fashion graduate, Phoebe Wang, joined us in her second year from Dalian, China. In her two years here she has honed her individual, colourful and experimental approach to Knitwear Design culminating in an exciting graduate collection for Menswear.
Phoebe Wang’s collection was inspired by fairytales and her personal childhood experiences. “I felt very lonely when I was small, I had working parents and few people to really care about me. I was extremely quiet, but I like drawing, I found that I could express my thoughts with my colourful marker pens”.
“I think like me, there are some children or grownups who are different, in some people’s eyes we may be weird. But we have a wonderful world in our mind. I think everyone should have a place in their mind even as they grow older… Children always think the best of people, they can easily forget their pain by having a lollipop. I want everyone to stay positive, to stay like a child.”
Designed for men Phoebe’s knitwear collection contains a spectacular array of pattern, texture and colour that capture a dream-like trippy realm. Designs such as COMME des GARÇONS Rei Kawakubo have inspired Phoebe to express her imaginary world and to put it into some sort of context. “To me Kawakubo is not only a fashion designer but an artist, she has always followed the beat of her own drum, both commercially and creatively.”
It is her parents, however, who have had the largest impact on Phoebe’s choice of career and drive to create “they have encouraged me to pursue my dreams since I was a kid, they told me the importance of hard working, so when I decide to do something, I will never give it up. I think this what makes me as a person and as a designer.”
Phoebe was awarded the Nancy Balfour Award for excellence at the WSA Degree Show. After the summer she will be starting her MA in Knitwear at the Royal College of Art. She will definitely be one to watch in the future!