Yan Hong is the designer behind the Yannic Hong label. In his work, Yan is striking a true balancing act between his two main inspirations: the hard world of science and the dream world of the traditional.
He describes his aesthetic as “precise and futuristic” and details more on his vision and passions in this exclusive InCompany by Attire Club interview.
What can you tell us about your upbringing? How did you come to choose to study fashion design?
Yan Hong: Since I was a child I have always been interested in literature and art. One of my neighbors is a painter and his attitude to life gave me a lot of inspirations. Even today I still remember he is passionate towards print engraving. The lines, the structure and the layout of the engraving has left a deep impression on me. It inspires me about the relationship between design elements and its space.
In fact, I initially planned to go study architectural design or industrial design. But I was shifted accidentally to fashion design. After several years of study, I found that it can be a more interesting direction to be in fashion. But architectural design elements and industrial style influence me a lot on my design sensibility, both in style and inspirations. For example, you may find some strong structure lines in my creations.
Where do you find your inspiration?
YH: My inspirations come from things that happen in the daily life, and especially when I’m working with other people. I’m a person who likes to explore and do research. For example, the latest collection is about “Green Chemists” and it is inspired by a chemist who is my working colleague and friend.
What are the main themes that concern you in your creative process?
YH: My design themes are always about the scientific world, including engineering, the universe (sacred, fractal geometry etc.,) medicine and many more. Science and technology bring well-beings such as fashion does, even though in different aspects. From this point, fashion themes should be strongly connected with these topics since fashion is an aesthetic expression for what is happening in our life.
I also hope people can be aware that fashion should be integrated with technology. I also hope that more people may contribute more to fashiontech.
This is also the reason I insist to obtain a Ph.D. degree, focusing on sustainable design and management for textiles. I want to explore how sustainability can be integrated within fashion.
You describe your aesthetic as being precise and futuristic. What are the characteristics that define these terms?
YH: I try to find the inside linkage between precise and futuristic and create a universal style of Yannic Hong. These characteristics are in line with the fashion style of me. We make sure our designs are minimal, precise, powerful, and innovative.
We create precise structure and details with futuristic style. For example, for the garment cutting, you may find some strong structural lines with different cuttings, but they are precisely connected and formulated. Same techniques are used to create folds with different layers and highlighted with strong shape. These details are minimal but they have powerful expression of the „precision”. These details will be placed with special volume on my creations, which brings different silhouette. Such technique will make the final design have different visual angels and create the „futuristic” style. White color is frequently used by me as another sign to show the futuristic. In my design, precise and futuristic are integrated in harmony and unity.
I also want to explain why we define the design style to be precise and futuristic. Being precise means that Yannic Hong’s customers are considerably in the image of being curious, concerned about the world’s future, and ready to explore the universe in a quest for answers and solutions to a better everyday life. It is an attitude to find the “real and exact” world. To create a style that is futuristic desires to remind our consumers that what are we doing will affect the future.
What do you think is the next big thing in menswear?
YH: The general trend is that there are more design elements emergent in men’s fashion. From my point of view, scientific elements will be reflected more and more in men’s fashion especially. Fashiontech is showing its growing power. Menswear can be more easily affected since men are more easily attracted by “technology experience”. But we should think about how to balance the “technology experience” and “wearable”.
Outside of your work, what are your hobbies or passions?
YH: When I’m free I like to play Lego to build creative models since I have been attracted to the designs of buildings. During this process, I’m really focused and I can enjoy myself. Besides this, the promotion of “equal fashion” concept for disabled people, to help them have the same right to enjoy fashion, is also one of my tasks during my free time. I’m passionate about making a difference when I’m doing my own design. I want to do my best. I feel the same way about what I do in my personal life.
Thank you!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. We want to hear from you! What do you think of merging technical elements with fashion? What do you think of Yan’s designs? How do you think the world of menswear will change? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!