FINALIST : A G N E S L OW

Coming from a graphic design background, Agnes Low, 24, was the only designer in the competition who laboured to create her own prints for her collection. The Lim Kok Wing University graduate worked with a sports-inspired silhouette, light-as-air fabrics, and a monochrome palette to give her clothes a sense of newness and edge. She believes in a subtler aesthetic that will endure beyond seasons and trends. You created your own prints for this collection. Can you describe your techniques? The two main techniques I used were silkscreen and sponge dye. For the silkscreen, I wanted the pattern to feel mechanical and modern but applied using the traditional way. Sponge dye was used to lend a more artistic feel to the clothes. Your day job is in graphic design. Do you think that gives you an advantage? Every time you step into a different field, it widens your perspective. You’ll start looking at things from different angles and you open yourself to new ideas. Why was your collection inspired by the passing of time? I find the idea of time flying by, inescapable by anyone regardless how rich or powerful they are, very interesting. And how did you translate such an abstract idea into your clothes? I used the movement and turning of gears to represent the passing time, so I made that into prints. I also used sponge-dying and ombre effects to make the clothes look faded, as though they’ve aged and a long time has passed. What do you think sets your work apart? My silhouettes are clean and simple, but they are not boring. The main selling point is print; it is minimal but detail-oriented. For me, fashion doesn’t always need to be about wild and crazy ideas. Who do you see wearing your clothes? I don’t design for any specific group. Even men can wear my clothes because a lot of them are unisex. I believe in making timeless, basic pieces that will flatter many people. Having said that, I do design clothes that I would wear.