The Birth of Amur

Protection for a new life in the frontier. That was what Amur eventually evolved into.

In the beginning, there were belts and shawls. Not contend with accessories however, we dreamt of bigger things. What better way to showcase one’s propensity for fabrics, cuts and construction than long outerwear?

ABOUT ME

This blog is a collection of my essays that I have written over the years. My main interests lie in the inner workings of the fashion industry, socio-economics studies and philosophy. My day job is running and designing ROSEN and its diffusion lines.

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The Evolution of A Garment and The Importance of Obsession in Design

To present a piece of creative work to the world is to throw away a…

Notes from The Tea Plantation

Fashion is an industry that is obnoxious, loud and extroverted. To do well, one must…

A Deeper Look into ROSEN’s NOON Collection

Noon started with outlines of garments in my head. They were enormous creatures; giants looming…

Issey Miyake APOC Inside Cardigan SS2011

By The Grace of Miyake

Humans are strange creatures. We pin our self-esteem on our beliefs. When our beliefs are validated, we feel good about ourselves. When they’re being contradicted, we often take it as a personal attack.

ROSEN: NOON

Part I: A Wandering Noon Part II: A Descending Noon Part III: A Homeward-Bound Noon…

On the Rising Homogeneity of Textiles in Fashion Industry

Homogeneity in fashion – both in design, and especially in its material use – is on the rise, owing to the transfer of decision-making power from the creatives to the marketers and merchandisers under the diktat of the managerial class, who prioritises quick returns over risky creative ideas in a bid to remain competitive in this social-media driven market.

An Ode to My Role Models

With the passing of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Issey Miyake, I prepared my farewell to the incoming end of an era, while facing the tsunami of celebrated mediocrity.

ROSEN Parachute Coat

Designing A Writer’s Outfit Pt. II

In the previous segment of this writer’s outfit project, I went into great detail about…

Designing A Writer’s Outfit, Pt. I

In which I started designing an outfit for myself because I got bored of my sweatshirt and cargo pants combo, which I wore to work everyday for almost the entire holiday season.

The Earhart: A Masochist’s Journey

A tale of creative pain and suffering encapsulated within a single garment

The Silk Bible

The continuously-updated fabric guide to silk for modern fashion design

A Summer Retrospective

In which I revisit summer-appropriate looks that spanned almost a decade

We Need to Change Because The Big Guys Won’t

It is time we recognise that we live in a rentier fashion ecosystem. Corporate earnings are funnelled to the upper echelons off the backs of workers from distant lands. There’s no changing the status quo unless we figure out how the game works.

“It’s The Economy, Stupid”: The Rise of Neoliberalism and Its Control on Fashion

A look into how this predatory form of transnational capitalism manipulates fashion industry for the benefits of the 21st century landlord class

ROSEN Sophora Dress

Building A Fashion Brand with A Purpose

How to compete in this cutthroat industry we call fashion by building a brand with meaning and humility.

On The Cusp of 2022

In which I wrote another essay on the train, zipping from the South to the North of China on a pilgrimage to seek a master.

How The Feds are Shaping Your Purchases: An Imminent Loss of Power in Consumer Choices

In late March 2020, the pandemic was beginning to grip the Western hemisphere. A few…

Four Ways to Start Your Fashion Design Career

Some time ago I wrote an essay regarding the initial considerations you should mull over…

In The Grounds of Ganden Sumtseling Monastery – A Gateway to Tibet

It is hard to believe that Shangri-La exists as an actual place. Unlike Yunnan’s other…

A Call for Hard Truths and Contemplation

We have to come to terms with the ugly truths on how the world is run before we can determine our purpose in life