Olivia Shen

Hi, I'm Olivia & welcome to my senior thesis! As an American-born Chinese who has grown up in both countries, my cultural identity is at the heart of who I am, and how I engage with the world as an evolving designer. Moving from suburban Michigan to Shanghai, I neglected to absorb Chinese traditions and my heritage, and refused to acknowledge Shanghai as home. It was only through leaving that I felt immense guilt for not embracing my deep roots with the city. These experiences inform my inherently personal design process, and explore the culture I denied myself by reflecting on cherished memories and details of Shanghai. Celebrating and honoring the history of my family and the city itself, my collection expresses my love for my hometown, Shanghai.

Website

Social: @shenyyolivia

Suzhou Creek Romper & Osmanthus Flower and Shanghai's Three-Ring Highway Qipao

silk brocade, printed voile, Chinese buttons, Osmanthus flowers, etc...

Spread 1 from food-based look book. Ingrained with family memories and details of Shanghai. Photo taken by Max Luger (@thecontentcampus)

Magnolia and Alleyway Button-down dress

printed voile, Chinese buttons, osmanthus flowers, bias tape, etc...

Spread 2 from food-based look book. Made and modeled in quarantine.

some collection influences

Local Alleyway Trousers

Pinstripe charcoal-gray wool, printed voile, bias tape, etc...

Spread 3 from food-based look book. Digitally collaged print includes the alleyway my father grew up in.

Suzhou Creek Romper & Osmanthus Flower and Shanghai's Three-Ring Highway Qipao (again)

Spread 4 from food-based look book. Photo taken by Max Luger (@thecontentcampus).

more collection influences

Silk Brocade Jacket & Joggers Set & Magnolia and Alleyway Button-down Dress

Silk brocade, printed voile, Chinese buttons, bias tape, etc...

Spread 5 from food-based look book. Easy and versatile to wear. Both made and modeled in quarantine, on my kitchen counter.

a bit of my collection's development

A Recipe from Home - Collection Video

Digital video

I've started cooking a lot in quarantine, more than I've ever back in school. Inspired by my new quarantine habits, this video displays my collection by walking you through a recipe for red-braised pork belly my mother taught me.

Apparel Design ↓

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Olivia
Shen