DISCIPLINE: FASHION DESIGN
CAREER AREA OF INTEREST: FASHION DESIGN and TAILORING
BIO: My name is Wanyi Zhu, a fashion designer from Shanghai. I am passionate about exploring the intersections of culture, history, and identity through fashion, drawing inspiration from the world around me. My interests include observing society and studying the roles of women across different cultural contexts, transforming these insights into a visual language within my designs.
For me, fashion is not only about creating garments but also about expressing ideas, strength, and emotions. It serves as a dialogue across time and geography, allowing audiences to connect with the uniqueness and diversity of culture.
I chose fashion because it allows me to merge creativity with the expression of culture and identity. Through my designs, I aim to highlight the power of women, the diversity of identity, and the fearless spirit that defines them.
Future Oriental is a womenswear collection by Wanyi Zhu (Julia), inspired by her Chinese cultural heritage and a contemporary vision of femininity. Drawing from Minnan traditions, the designs explore women’s strength and adaptability, emphasising fluidity between identities rather than singular roles.
Precise tailoring, structured silhouettes, and careful attention to proportion and material reinterpret cultural values, while reflective sewing threads serve as a signature detail: under natural light, garments appear composed and minimal, but under flash or intense illumination, hidden stitched pathways shimmer like constellations. This duality merges craft with light-responsive technology and symbolises resilience and visibility—reminding that even in obscurity, women remain luminous, carrying their presence into spaces that might seek to diminish them.
IMAGES/VIDEOS / PORTFOLIOS:
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Instagram: @juliazhu_wy
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