Runway Radar: Abbi Yang celebrates feminism with hip-hop–driven V. Driz

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      By Camille Huang

      Abbi Yang uses fashion as self-expression. She fuses hip-hop culture, especially graffiti and rap music, into streetwear designs. Her work is a collection of innovative pieces that celebrate individualism and feminism. 

      V. Driz, Yang’s graduate collection, showcases experimental cutting in streetwear for independent and confident women who embrace a tough-girl attitude. The streetwear combines craftsmanship details with modern hip-hop trends. Yang’s signature piece—shorts with an attached —is designed for women to proudly show their bodies because she believes that they have the right to do so.

      V. Driz will be unveiled at 2018 The Show presented by Tamoda Apparel Inc., on April 19 and 20 at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU) new purpose-built Wilson School of Design building. The beautiful and innovative $36-million building houses a range of design programs including the fashion-design-and-technology program. Thirty-one other lines by KPU fashion design and technology students will also be showcased.

      For event details, visit kpu.ca/2018fashionshow or follow @wilsondesignkpu on Instagram.

      Camille Huang: Describe your collection.

      Abbi Yang: V. Driz is a collection inspired by hip-hop culture, especially rap music and graffiti sketches. It is designed for confident and independent women who embrace a tough-girl attitude, and look for details such as experimental cutting and quality craftsmanship for self-expression.

      CH: Who or what was the inspiration behind your line?

      AY: As a rap music lover and hip-hop dancer, I appreciate hip-hop culture and its values: peace, love, unity, and having fun, which were advocated by pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. To me, hip-hop is a form of self-expression. For example, people use DJing, break dancing, graffiti, and rap music, which are the four main elements of hip-hop, to express themselves and deliver meaningful messages.

      I’m inspired by female rappers such as Tommy Genesis, M.I.A., and Rihanna, who use lyrics to express feminism and girl power. I designed cut-out detailed garments for women to proudly show their bodies. I also use graffiti-inspired embroidery to accentuate the freshness of design.

      CH: Walk me through your creative process.

      AY: I love sketching different ideas to better visualize designs. I would experiment with my original design by resizing, re-proportionating, and re-colouring it. After challenging traditional silhouettes and playing around with the designs, I come up with more innovative designs. Then, I start to drape to see how every detail works. My designs often change during the draping process as well.

      CH: What have you learned at KPU?

      AY: The three main things I have learned at KPU are self-management, time management, and problem-solving skills. Because we usually have one to two projects due every week, time and self-management are necessary for us to accomplish our tasks. Deadlines are extremely important: in order to meet them, I have to organize my work and plan my schedules. I have also learned problem-solving skills through hands-on experience in production and practicum classes.

      CH: What aspect of design are you most passionate about?

      AY: I’m most passionate about the story behind my design. To me, fashion is a tool for delivering messages and expressing oneself. I believe that story makes the design more meaningful, attractive, and memorable.

      CH: How do you set yourself apart from other designers?

      AY: I think it’s my fusion of music, culture, creativity, and fashion that really set me apart. Music and fashion are my greatest interests and I believe that they are intertwined and they influence each other. The elements of a song or a music video, such as the emotion, message, lyrics, scene, and story, can all be my inspiration for design. Also, I was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan; my Asian background enables me to see design from different perspectives.

      Camille Huang is a final-year fashion design and technology student at KPU’s Wilson School of Design.

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