COLLECTION| Yifang Wan AW14

Yifang Wan’s effortlessly cool SS14 collection left everyone craving glittered blackout sunglasses in September, so today at Freemasons' Hall we were all eager to see what the young Central Saint Martins graduate was going to bring to the table.

An electric atmosphere was immediate as the show opened to Machine Gun by Portishead. Even though the models were not equipped with their glasses from last season, they definitely still had the tougher than nails attitude that is always expected from Wan's army.

A gorgeous palette of shimmering yale blue, lilac, dark teal, stone and black complimented each outfit perfectly. Each look was head-to-toe in the chosen colour, allowing attention to be drawn to the fabrics. Thick wools with rough edges provided the warmth needed for London’s winters, however sex appeal was not amiss with deep v-neck dips and side slits.

Wan's martial art influences were present again with slitted and pleated skirts, oversized jackets and asymmetric paneling. The impeccable tailoring behind each and every one of Yifangs collections enabled this collection to follow suit in being extremely covetable and desirable.

An interesting feature for AW14 was the use of strings draping from each outfit, whether it was from the chest, back or side each model left a trail as they walked behind them.

For AW13 Fashion Scout awarded Wan with the Merit Award for her simplistic and elegant aesthetic and a year later nothing seems to have changed.

By Emily Black, (@emilyy_black)

Images by Jamike Latif (@JamikeLatif)

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT AW14| Yifang Wan

Taiwan born designer Yifang Wan is one of a handful of Asian designers with a distinctly modern aesthetic. A master in sports luxe, the Central Saint Martins graduate combines elegance with ease in loose flowing fabrics and functional silhouettes. She was also awarded the Loreal Professional Young Designer Award for her BA graduation show, and since then her designs have grown into beautifully crafted collections as shown in her SS14 offering. Now based in London, her designs are simplistic yet beautiful with martial arts being one of her key influences.

Like many Asian designers, our former Merit Award winner combines native traditions with nouveau shapes and craftsmanship as seen in her SS14 collection. Despite a minimal colour palette, Yifang Wan lets her skill speak through asymmetrical designs and multiple layers. She also cites art and more specifically Salvador Dali as a huge influence in her design process as well as how people wear clothes rather than just the pieces themselves. It’s this consideration of form and function that adds an extra dimension to her aesthetic and breaks the mould that many new designers try to fill these days.

Yifang Wan is preparing to showcase her fourth season this AW14 at London Fashion Week. She will present her collection on Day Two of Fashion Scout London at 11:30am in The Gallery.

Be sure to view the full schedule here.

By Olivia Hunter (@oliviahunter)
Photographs by Ben Turgel (@benjaminturgel)

INTERVIEW| Yifang Wan SS14

The Fashion Scout blog team caught up with last season's Merit Award winner, Yifang Wan to discuss her SS14 collection. 

How have you progressed since being given the Merit Award last season?

I think I had very good feedback and it really encouraged me while creating the next collection. I also think I’ve improved quite a lot.

Accessories are always a key point in your collections, can you talk me through your key accessories for SS14?

Well we’re focusing on the glasses which I think are really subtle and send out the message of the collection.

What do you think about the opportunities that Fashion Scout provides not only for you but for international designers?

I think it’s a really great platform for young designers and emerging designers to show their collections. 

Interview by Elizabeth Renfrey, Fashion Scout Contributor, @erenfrey
Photography by Benjamin Turgel, @BenjaminTurgel

Follow us on Twitter @FashionScout #FashionScout

NEWS| TANK magazine features Yifang Wan and Ai Weiwei

TANK magazine have highlighted on their social media channels FEB'13 Merit Award Winner Yifang Wan's encounter with Ai Weiwei prior to her A/W13 show. Published on their Twitter and Facebook channels, the eponymous magazine stated:

"Young designer Yifang Wan met with Ai Weiwei when she was in China. Little did she know she was about to get a make over.

As a way to test how comfortable people are on letting a total stranger in, Ai Weiwei cuts strangers hair and documents this on his instagram. 

Here's Yifang's finished do!"

We blogged about Yifang's meeting with renowned artist Ai Weiwei during fashion week, read the full post here. 

Blog Post by Editor Cass Gowing

First photo, images from Ai Weiwei's Instagram as used by Tank Magazine, second images courtessey of Yifang Wan

EXHIBITION| Yifang Wan FEB'13

Today Fashion Scout caught up with AW13 Merit Award and L’oreal Professional Young Designer Award winner Yifang Wan; who upon graduating from Central Saint Martins, has showcased two collections both on the Fashion Scout catwalk and in the Freemasons Hall exhibition space.

Wan’s signature style explores an architectural aesthetic with a sense of simplicity and originality. She creates an elegant linear look that focuses on high quality materials and impeccable cuts to retain an elegant elongated silhouette. Last season her multi-faceted cuffs and pointed cocktail rings finished off the constructed look in a theatrical presentation; whilst this season her weapon inspired accessories have attracted much attention.

The collection demonstrates impeccable tailoring through a palette of deep green, navy and indigo, trouser and tunic sets which are simplistic whilst elegant. The weapon-esq accessories shaped like half stars are made from moulded steel and offer a dramatic contrast to the contemporary pieces showcased.

Brooke McCord, @Brooke McCord

Photography by Tram Nguyen @TramNguyenp

CATWALK| Merit Award Winner Yifang Wan

Images by Simon Armstrong
www.simonarmstrong.com

Merit Award: Yifang Wan AW13 Catwalk Collection from FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.

INTERVIEW | Merit Award Winner Yifang Wan and Director Martyn Roberts

After an outstanding showcase of her new collection Feb ’13 Merit Award winner Yifang Wang stopped amidst a busy and frenzy backstage after show buzz to talk a little bit about the show.

The collection was amazing, how do you feel winning the Merit Award?

Thank you so much. I’m very honoured and proud to be showing my collection.

Has Fashion Scout London as a showcase inspired your work?

Yes, London is very inspiring because there is always a lot happening here, and a lot of people so it is always busy.

What were your inspirations behind the collection?

It's about religion, it's very spiritual and about the way people are religious. I am looking at ritual experiences in people.

What’s next for you and your brand?

I want to keep doing it, keep going and creating more.

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Martyn Roberts, Fashion Scout's Director produced the Merit Award show and commented on the feel and atmosphere post-show: 

“The music was wonderful – very dark that had a good beat to it. So we really wanted to feed into it and build up the models slowly but very powerfully. The clothing speaks for itself. We don't need to do anything fancy or over-stylised because the clothing is very simple, very clean, very powerful. We had Vogue Italia, South China Morning Post and a lot of other talent spotters here. She's an incredible designer, very talented.”

Interview by Vanessa Omoregie (@wewearblack) and Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)

Images by Kris Elliott (@kriselliott)

FRONT ROW| Merit Award: Yifang Wan

With Yifang Wan being awarded Fashion Scout's Merit Award winner this season, we talked to the front row on the designer.

“I'm quite excited because I sat on the committee for the Merit Award said stylist Rebekah Roy before the show. "I've had a sneaky peek backstage at some of the colours and the accessories they did for the graduate collection. Now we're seeing metallics so I feel they're taking that to the next step."

“We saw it last season and it was very beautifully co-ordinated," Wendy Malen from the Centre of Sustainable Fashion stated. "It's right for retail, so we've come to see how it's moved on. It was very clean last season, beautifully made. There was a quality to it that has brought us back. Fashion Scout as a platform always identifies interesting, young designers that we have to be aware of.”

After the show, designer Haizhen Wang stated “I love Yifang Wan's clothes. The form, the silhouette, the whole look is very strong. That's why I come to see the show. I want to get a close up rather than just seeing the pictures.”

Francesca Fearon of the South China Morning Post also commented, saying “The collection was very clean. I liked the oversized looseness relating back to her heritage."

Interviews by Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)

Images by Kris Elliott (@KrisElliott)

COLLECTION| Merit Award Winner: Yifang Wan FEB'13

It was with pure atmosphere that Fashion Scout Merit Award winner Yifang Wan's AW13 show began. Entitled 'Limits of the Body and Possibilities of the Mind', it was inspired by the extreme self-restraint and austerity of an ascetic life.

Building on her signature aesthetic of linear and original design whilst exploring new ground, blacks, violets, emeralds and indigos of the finest fabrics appeared. Overcoats, full length dresses, tailored trouser and tunics all comprised a part of the collection as models walked architectural pieces focused on form, fabric and texture. Metallic stainless steel belts, necklaces and cuffs brought to a sharp point reenforced the sharp cuts of the garments and only served in increasing that atmosphere as the show progressed.

Beautifully cut and uncompromising in precision, Yifang Wan's AW13 collection was uncomplicated, utterly memorable and proved exactly why she was awarded this season's Merit Award winner.

Words by Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)

Images by Max Barnett (@MaxBarnettPhoto)

BACKSTAGE| Merit Award: Yifang Wan FEB'13

Backstage at our much anticipated Merit Award Winner, Yifang Wan, the teams at Toni & Guy and The Body Shop were hard at work to create a beautiful look for the show.  

Summarised as "all about the skin", makeup was completely neutral; emphasising a youthful, dewy complexion.  The absence of colour on the eyes and the lips not only enhanced the look's simplicity, but also drew the gaze to highlighted cheekbones and the angle of the jawline.       

Hair was much in the same vein; natural, tousled waves cascading down the back from a side-parting, and then gathered in a loosely-fastened ponytail.  

Words by Abigail Gurney-Read (@AbbyGurneyRead)
Pictures by Kriss Elliott (@kriselliott)