This weekend, the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (TECO) will present the 2015 Taiwan Design Cutting Edge Fashion Show in its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. The first-of-its-kind event brings together 28 young and talented student designers, some from New York’s top fashion schools, including the Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons the New School for Design, Pratt Institute, and School of Visual Art. Various aspects of fashion, including fashion accessories, jewelry design, textile design, and fashion illustration will be featured in the exhibition which runs from February 13-15. So, for all fashion lovers and admirers, whether they’re into needlepoint products or designer couture, head down, and watch the fabulous show! The runway fashion show on the Feb 13 opening night will be a highlight, showcasing sixty-eight unique designs from spring/summer and fall collections by twelve student designers. With any luck, the fashion on display at the show will make its way to stores soon. The appetite for designer clothing is showing little sign of waning in the US and so it’s likely pieces like these will grace the hangars of Macy’s and other department stores in the near future. Those who see the price of such garments and are instantly put off may want to consider first heading online in search of coupons so they can get a discount on the latest fashions.
Charlin Chang, Education Director of TECO speaking in the press conference. © Hansi Liao
For some, like jewelry designer Youning Cheng, the show is a chance to show their talent and is an achievement of a dream. “I was a business major before I found my true calling in jewelry design by looking through a bunch of them online and admiring the designs. That’s why I moved to New York and had a fresh start in the fashion industry,” she explained. She had to do a lot of work to prove herself in the industry – she took time to read about the qualities and uses of gems like emeralds, using the information on sites like haruni so she could include them in her designs.
According to Charlin Chang, Education Director of TECO, by providing a platform where emerging Taiwanese designers working in the United States can share their creative designs, the exhibition aims to encourage them to make waves in the fashion industry, where many overseas Taiwanese have long been established. Because the participants themselves are also involved with the planning and execution of the exhibition, the experience goes beyond showing their designs. Emily Peng, a designer and the organizer of the runway show, considers the event as a good opportunity for students to practice curatorial skills and to build a strong team spirit.
Visit the exhibition Facebook page for designer profiles, more information, and updates.
Charlin Chang, Education Director of TECO, Taiwanese young designers and their models. © Hansi Liao
Exhibition: February 13 – 15
Opening Reception / Runway Fashion Show: February 13, 7 PM
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, 1 East 42nd Street
Free, RSVP requested for Opening Reception
A sneak peek of Taiwanese students’ fashion designs:
© Hansi Liao
© Hansi Liao
© Hansi Liao
© Hansi Liao
All photos by Hansi Liao
Andrew Shiue contributed to this article