Let us show you the world in our eyes. Muse Lila, daydreaming in a story featuring Sara Wong selected pieces, photographed by Marco Giuliano and styled by Anca Macavei, at Speronari Suites, one of the finest places to stay in the heart of Milan.
Besides being the creative director of Sara Wong, you also have a Master’s degree in finance in addition to fashion design studies. Can you share with us an insight on your background and how it all start?
I suppose that the finance studies have definitely broadened my logic and structural process abilities with a very different mindset. I am quite sure to have a good sense of rationality and balance that combined with my creativity allowed me to find the right mix of commercial viability and design. My first professional approach was with an accounting firm where I worked for some years but very soon I understood that it couldn’t be my future and I decided to change it. My career in fashion started officially in 2010 when I returned to China and took over the position of Creative Director at Maxrieny (now Sara Wong). I worked immediately on the collection but also I reinvented the interior design of our spaces.
Why you decided to give your name to the brand?
After 10 years in the company where I gave my vision and everything was under my artistic direction reflecting my personality, I feel it is now the time to put all myself in my collection, including my name, in order to give a strong identity to the brand. I want my women to recognise themselves in me and this is a way to tell them “this is me, this is Sara Wong”.
What about your creative design process? How do you start working on a collection?
Before the pandemic reduced our movements, I usually travelled very much and loved to meet people. I am always attracted by different cultures. When I visit a country I pay attention to all the details and fix them in my mind then when I start the design process I put them together. My collections have no boundaries on time or space. I found inspiration also in daily life, in little things, but also in art, that’s my first passion. When I work on a collection I feel like an artist who is creating his artwork.
What’s the story behind the FW/21 collection showcased here in our photographs?
I got inspired by the Mongolian culture, in particular the period of XIX century when the “New Culture Movement” has been spread inside China, and lot’s of Mongolian intellectuals, especially those who had returned from overseas, brought back home the culture from the west.
The color palette reflects the preferred shades from Mongolian women from brown to blue with a touch of yellow and lilac, lively and bright colors for a woman with an outgoing temperament. The silhouettes are heavily inspired by traditional outfits of Mongolian women, especially the shoulders, deconstruction and reconstruction are also frequently used throughout this collection. The collection maintains its playfulness by mixing fabrics with a touch of pure femininity.
How is your upbringing in China reflected into your work? Is tradition an important key concept for you?
Tradition is the key of my work. I always blend together different cultures, in particular I love to mix east and west.
The fashion industry nowadays is going through a strong transition from analog to digital, how do you feel about this current status quo and what are some changes you would like to see in the future?
I think that digital was already an important part of fashion industry before the pandemic, afterwards it was only accelerated. Digital can for sure advantage some processes and in this moment it allows us to present our work keeping the safe distance. It is changing our work and our life as well. As I am a romantic, and a dreamer, I hope in a near future we can balance analog and digital and return to a normal life where people can touch the dresses and feel the scent of the fabrics.
Which is the best advice you were ever given in life?
Someone in the past told me that nothing is impossible and I live my life following this suggestion.
Future plans at Sara Wong you want to share with us?
I prefer not to talk about future plans in this time when it is difficult to know even what is going to happen tomorrow. Keep in touch and follow me to discover all the projects.
Credits:
Photography: Marco Giuliano / @marcogiulianoph
Styling: Anca Macavei / @ancamacavei
Fashion: Sara Wong / @sarawongofficial
Location: Speronari Suites / @speronarisuites
Styling assistant: Selin Celik / @selinceliks
Interview: Maylyn Bertorelli / @twiggymay
Model: Lila at Elite Models / @lila_braghero @elitemodelworld
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