Yiling Zhou
Subcultures are the fuel for my inspiration. I transform everything interesting into a language you can wear. The body is the canvas, colour is emotion—my designs are every stroke in this game. No gender, no boundaries, just pure playfulness. These clothes aren’t armour that defines you, but toys that invite you to let your hair down, they belong to everyone.
Look Book
WE ARE SMART
My design research explores Shamate(Smart) subculture through a surrealist lens to frame a fashion experiment. I deconstruct the cultures iconic towering hairstyles, reading them as heterogeneous spaces that distort proportion and reconfigure reality. Drawing on Schiaparelli and Noir Kei Ninomiya, I combine striking colour with nylon tutu net to translate the subculture into overstated silhouettes. Extracting the hairstyles’ self-protective qualities, I build excessive, semi-enclosed structures that create a barrier zone for the wearer. Adjustable, interactive net elements invite touch, allowing hands to channel excess energy through intuitive shaping. The collection recodes Shamate(Smart) symbols into a form of armour, offering functional sensory support within an ultra-surreal aesthetic for people with ADHD.
