Meet Zixuan Xu | Fashion designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zixuan Xu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zixuan, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Realness is a difficult “achievement”
For me, the pursuit of Realness is my consistent attitude and will, whether it is facing work or life. This realness is based on facing oneself honestly and facing life with a sensitive attitude. Don’t care about beauty or ugliness, but emphasize respecting your own feelings and inner voice. Creation for me is a mirror reflection of life and a spread of reflection on daily life.
In addition, I think the most important thing in creation is to be unconventional and not be bound by a framework. Try to keep yourself innocently curious, observe and experience from a fresh perspective, and treat yourself with sincerity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art, to me, is not about being different from others, but an inclusive space where everyone’s uniqueness is a natural result. I never think I need to be “different” because everyone’s art and way of thinking are unique in themselves. Art is a process of approaching the true self and the world, and a display of infinite imagination. Through movies with different worldviews, I constantly verify my view of this planet – infinite possibilities. In my works, I try to express my wild imagination, visualize the fantasy of the possibilities of this world, and create works full of imagination and meaning.

My journey to today is a process of self-growth. Creation is often easy and pleasant for me, but what really supports my life is to make art sustainable through continuous efforts. I believe that many artists have had times when they were hungry, and this is also part of growth. But every effort and challenge is worth it, and they make me more determined on my creative path.

When facing challenges, I learned to use my time reasonably, to work hard to make money, and to pay attention to my emotional and psychological changes. I learned to make room for myself to create, to give my creation more freedom, and to make life more fulfilling.

The most important lesson I have learned on this artistic journey is to be kind to yourself and to others. Every friction and every little conflict in life is beautiful and meaningful. I hope to share this sincere emotion with others through my design, and I also hope that my work can bring surprises and new experiences to the world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friends come to Los Angeles, I will definitely let them experience a very down-to-earth and random trip. Los Angeles is a city full of chance encounters, and something unforeseen may happen every day, which is also one of my favorite parts.

The itinerary I call “Wandering Art”. We will “land” in places such as downtown, San Gabriel, Hollywood, Art District and Long Beach, and start our “trip” of random events. I like to make the trip full of uncertainty, because in Los Angeles, the streets and shops themselves are places full of artistic atmosphere. I will take my friends to stroll around these areas, observe the surrounding environment, and feel the cultural characteristics of different areas. Sometimes we will stop at a store that looks interesting and find some unique small items; sometimes we may also enter a restaurant with a lot of fate and enjoy an unexpected meal.

“Randomness” is a kind of fate, which allows us to experience unusual experiences, and every chance encounter will make the trip more exciting. I think this unpredictable journey can truly make people feel the diversity and richness of Los Angeles. Every street, every store, and every meal has its unique artistry and life atmosphere, which is exactly what I want to explore and experience with my friends.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this recognition to three essential forces behind my artistic path: my parents, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and my circle of friends.

To my parents: Pursuing art as a career challenged traditional expectations in my cultural background, yet you stood firmly by my decision. Your unwavering emotional and practical support empowered me to navigate uncertainties. From investing in my education to trusting my vision, you laid the foundation for every opportunity I’ve embraced.

To SCAD and the city of Savannah: As an international student, adapting to life in the U.S. requires more than academic preparation. SCAD’s rigorous programs sharpened my technical skills, while Savannah’s artistic community broadened my creative perspective. The stability I found here, both on campus and in the city’s historic surroundings, allowed me to channel my energy fully into growth rather than survival.

To my friends: In the isolating journey of building a life abroad, my friends became my lifeline. They understood the unspoken challenges of cultural adaptation, visa complexities, and the weight of homesickness. Their consistent presence—through shared frustrations, celebrations of small milestones, and quiet acts of solidarity—taught me that resilience is a collective effort. Their belief in me often outweighed my self-doubt, pushing me to persist when obstacles seemed insurmountable.

True success is never achieved alone. This acknowledgment is a testament to those who turned my individual aspirations into a shared endeavor.

Website: http://www.pike-swordfish-jedk.squarespace.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beast_xzx/

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/zixuan-xu

Image Credits
Photographer: Matt Gleason
Model: Jenna Huckstep, Shammah Dosunmd, Aua Lindley, Zexin Zheng, Annie Hart