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A search for the story of Amur led me to the tranquil Northern regions
Is running a slow-fashion business model possible in a tough economic climate?
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?
To present a piece of creative work to the world is to throw away a…
Fashion is an industry that is obnoxious, loud and extroverted. To do well, one must…
Noon started with outlines of garments in my head. They were enormous creatures; giants looming…
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.
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.
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.
In the previous segment of this writer’s outfit project, I went into great detail about…
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.
A tale of creative pain and suffering encapsulated within a single garment
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.
A look into how this predatory form of transnational capitalism manipulates fashion industry for the benefits of the 21st century landlord class
How to compete in this cutthroat industry we call fashion by building a brand with meaning and humility.
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.
In late March 2020, the pandemic was beginning to grip the Western hemisphere. A few…
Some time ago I wrote an essay regarding the initial considerations you should mull over…
It is hard to believe that Shangri-La exists as an actual place. Unlike Yunnan’s other…
We have to come to terms with the ugly truths on how the world is run before we can determine our purpose in life
As fashion is becoming more fashionable, especially through the rise of visually-driven materialistic social media,…
A couple of weeks ago, I had a dream that I could still recall clearly.…
Contemplating destruction and decay while walking around Shanghai’s old neighbourhood
Prologue Four months ago, I embarked on an ambitious journey to design ROSEN-X garments I…
I started this blog before I went to university, which was roughly a decade ago.…
It goes without saying that most of us are not having a jolly good time…
When we talk about ethical fashion brands, Issey Miyake is usually not the first name…
Issey Miyake, creating technical outerwear for the everyday since the 70s. Discover the selection of…
Adhering to The Norm ROSEN has never followed fashion cycle nor seasons, nor any pre-determined…
The cold winter days seem to have disappeared, leaving behind warm sunshine, brisk cool winds…
Balenciaga FW2016 Trench Coat Joseph Trousers Sacai Wedge Boots
In late February, Pudong airport was operating as usual despite the lower volume of traffic.…
Fashion and Its Charming Front Fashion is built on the illusion of grandeur, beauty, creativity,…
It has been a few years since I began working on ROSEN. Along the way,…
The Atlantic loves to report on current trends of Instagrammers, which is frankly quite eye-opening…
Ever since I discovered the likes of Rick Owens and Comme des Garçons many years…
Vogue Business recently published a piece on the rising popularity of made-to-order business model. It…
Ten years ago I was interning as a graphic designer at a clothing manufacturing company…
It’s hard to remember the last time I found solitude – the kind of solitude…
A week ago I held an informal poll on my Instagram story. The question I…
As someone who thinks a lot about social media marketing strategy, I have to observe…
Some weeks ago I turned 31, marking an ever closer milestone to a decade-long dive…
I am by nature a visual person, so plucking ideas from personal experiences and turning…
There are three different kinds of hard work. Some work is hard because it’s laborious…
“Should I get it, or should I not?” That’s the question that I often found…
At the time of writing, the plane was flying somewhere over Australia’s Northern Territory. I…
In continuation from the last post about clothing production, I would like to post an…
If at first you don’t succeed, walk. Whenever I begin a new project at full…
Everytime I plan and do the samples for a new collection, self-doubt creeps in. ROSEN…
Some weeks ago, I entered a new decade of my life. Here are some things…
Another flight, another essay. Sitting on the plane seems to be the only chance I…
Issey Miyake parachute coat Unbranded compression shirt and joggers Ann Demeulemeester boots
The time is two in the morning. I am sitting on the plane as I…
Balenciaga by Nicholas Ghesquière Aviator Shearling ROSEN Brontë Shirt ROSEN Ingvar Trousers Margiela Techno Tabi…
When it comes to sneakers, I prefer to be the benchwarmer than a key player.…
As the summer heat gave way to the cool breeze of autumn, Tony Takitani grew…
Tony Takitani was by no means a remarkable man from his outwardly appearance. He lived…
At ROSEN we don’t make overly complicated clothing. Despite that we do encounter problems in…
It was seven in the morning when I decided to head south of my Airbnb…
Longjing Tea Plantation, West Lake, Hangzhou Discover ROSEN’s selection of Rick Owens archive pieces
There’s the old cliché attributed to Yohji Yamamoto of black representing the desire to be…
Let’s get technical and talk about fabric. After all, I am in the business of…
Outside of central Shanghai lies a small water town called Qibao. A Chinese water town…
The key to avoiding disappointments is to not have expectations. Which is why the Met…
I’ve only started fully appreciating Undercover when its designer Jun Takahashi released the Borremans collection…
I was always interested in making clothing that is worn by people in the real…
Ah the classic trench coat. A ubiquitous garment with a rich history we now take…
As the sun was setting, fog soon descended. Walking down the dimly-lit roads lined with…
Wearing vintage French army coat and trousers; Alexander Wang x H&M top; Ann Demeulemeester trousers…
I was scouring the web for various reading materials when I chanced upon this article…
I had always had a problem with my water heater ever since I moved into…
When the CFDA (Council of Fashion Design America) called Greg Lauren to tell him Banana…
Friendship with women is different from that with men. Personally I find it easier to…
Gone are the days of streetwear being led by skaters and surfers. They are now replaced by friends and insiders of music industry with massive clout
With all the talk about Issey Miyake’s history resurfacing again after his grand exhibit in…
If you are followers of Comme des Garçons and Undercover (or fans of various celebrities),…
It is no secret that Rei Kawakubo often recycles certain motifs over the years. This…
I don’t remember the last time I wrote about a trend analysis on this blog,…
It’s no secret that I am deeply fond of Comme des Garçons, and often I’ve…
Ask someone to name the greatest designer to come out of Japan, Rei Kawakubo would…