Meet Xuan Cui | Fashion Designer & Founder

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

Hi Xuan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

This is an interesting question because I have only started to think about pursuing a creative career after I experienced one semester of learning economics in 2017. Before that, I was following a mainstream path back in my hometown, working hard and taking exams to have a good science/art (generally referring to realms like Literature, History, Geopraphy, not exactly “art” in English meaning) major in university. Art was actually out of sight for me. The only way to study art was to attend specific sketching/painting lessons and participate in exams rating your drawing skills. It was somewhat impossible for me to spear my time for this while working on science majors, and the fact that I have pretty good scores also prevented me from the thoughts of learning art, not to mention having an artistic career.

Everything changed on an ordinary weekend. I saw an article writing about art schools in the States, and the thought of learning in an art school abroad excited me; to me, it was like opening doors to an entirely new world I could never have imagined. Among all majors, fashion design stood out to me because I believe that I can express myself the most via the form of wearables, and I was curious to see how I could put my creativity into collections of clothing. Out of nowhere, I had a strong confidence that I would design clothes that I myself and other people would love. After attending classes and gaining knowledge about the fashion realm, I became aware of the specific rules of designing and creating but also enjoyed the freedom that it offered; that is when I believed it was the right road for me to pursue a creative career and be a fashion designer.

Still, there often are days when I feel like I am running out of ideas, days when I doubt if I really have any talent, days when the passion inside me fades… I cannot count how many times I wanted to quit designing and find something else to do for a lifetime. But I have faith, long-lasting faith that always draws me back on track, back to creating and improving, learning, and hoping to give out positivity through my works. I love what I do, and I feel so lucky about it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a fashion design BFA who graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2023. I grew up with a multicultural background (being a member of a Chinese minority group) and have been fortunate to study both arts and science in different cities and abroad (Beijing, Yanji (China), Seoul, London, New York). I gained open-mindedness and appreciation for different thoughts and styles through the rich experiences and gradually established my style, offering a fun and relaxing visual experience.

My greatest passion in design is using color, which is evident through a consistent showcase of a curated palette brimming with vibrant energy. Along with that, I place great emphasis on creating interesting forms, considering the contrast of positive/negative shapes, resulting in designs that give out an unforgettable sense of playfulness.

For example, in my collection TZII7211, I chose yarn as my primary material and hand-crochet as the main method and crafted each stitch with care and attention (the pieces are all handmade by myself). Together with the digital illustrations, I aim to create a whimsical and lively world, hoping that the pieces can stop the viewers’ seriousness for a second and let them feel relaxed.

As people grow up and immerse themselves in the demands of society, it becomes increasingly challenging for them to unwind and find moments of ease, especially when they live alone. Understanding this struggle, I started planning this collection and aspire to design pieces that could bring joy to tired grown-ups and evoke happy memories of their childhood or serve as a simple emotional&physical compensation for less-than-perfect pasts.

Looking towards the future, I will continue developing designs that embody a soft and approachable essence, with the aim of uplifting the moods of those who encounter them. Ultimately, my aspiration is for the world to be imbued with warmth and care, reflected in the heartfelt nature of the creations.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to credit my family members for their unconditioned support towards my education and career. It was not an easy decision to let me change my major and immerse myself in a different environment, especially when none of my family members had a creative degree or career. I am grateful for them supporting me to do what I have passion for and always caring about my health and work-life balance.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tzii7211?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Image Credits
Photography: Jialin Huang Hair & Makeup: Jingyi Hong Special Thanks: Yang Flora Feng Model: Xuan Cui