Upon receiving invitations to NYFW, there are only ever a few designers in which we must have coverage, and I think we just added a new one to our watch list. Meet SEMIR x C.J. YAO.
Two designers, one collaboration, and an undoubted thumbs up from the staff here at The Manor. With fashion’s constant revolution around trends and the influx of the fast fashion industry, one thing has remained true: the precision of high-quality clothing in the work of designer Semir and C.J. Yao. For Semir, fashion has always come from the heart, taking aim at the fast fashion industry by never compromising quality and performance.
With that said, C.J. Yao has proven herself by attracting the attention of Central Saint Martins, Singapore Fashion Week, and now the eyes of every street style lover. This year at New York Fashion Week, both designers collaborated to bring us the geometric, gender-bending expression of redefined fashion.
Text-heavy jumpers combined with highlighter yellow panties commanded the runway, along with a sporty mix of patchwork jackets that delivered every minimalist’s dream. The incorporation of metallic materials took the collaboration to the edge it was reaching toward, making each piece perfect for that one of a kind look you need at your next party.
As with most designers we saw this season, Semir and C.J. Yao weren’t afraid to take a risk when it came to color. The clothing divided itself among the runway, creating self-made categories that focused on accentuating one color at a time, bringing each piece to the center of attention.
This first-time collaboration was dedicated to the mass market of fast fashion, serving the internet age. With that said, it will be interesting to see what these designers bring to the table next season. Will the industry of fast fashion become overwhelmed with constant changes in trend? Will designers be able to keep up? Our obsession with consistent change and variety will certainly pose interesting influence to designers that focus on a generation consumed with the culture of now.
Written by Jake Wolfe
Cover image courtesy of Company Agenda