Above The Cloud Womenswear Collection

Above The Cloud Womenswear Collection

Above the Cloud Womenswear Collection is a sophisticated fashion design project that explores the complex interplay between war and fashion, created by Chinese designer Rong Zhang. This innovative womenswear collection, comprising twelve distinct looks in US size 4, masterfully combines historical references with contemporary design elements, drawing inspiration from the internment of Japanese Americans and Constructivist sculptures. The collection is distinguished by its oversized silhouettes, geometric textures, and innovative technical execution, incorporating digital printing, hand-dying techniques, and three-dimensional pattern-making methodologies. The designer's approach challenges mass-production conventions while developing a unique aesthetic that bridges Western and Japanese wartime fashion influences. The collection's conceptual foundation explores the dual nature of war's impact on fashion, addressing how conflict simultaneously stimulates fashion globalization and revives interest in handcrafts while constraining ethnic fashion expressions and contributing to material waste in fast consumption. Notable technical achievements include computer-designed check patterns digitally printed on silk satin, gradient color treatments on wool and cotton fabrics, and sophisticated draping techniques that transform two-dimensional textiles into complex three-dimensional forms. The collection, which was developed between January and June 2015 and subsequently exhibited in London and New York, received recognition with an Iron A' Design Award in the Fashion, Apparel and Garment Design category, acknowledging its innovative approach to material use, aesthetic appeal, and cultural relevance.

womenswear design, geometric patterns, wartime fashion influence, contemporary fashion collection, innovative pattern-making, cultural fusion aesthetics

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Above The Cloud Womenswear Collection.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=439579 (Accessed on June 06, 2025)"