KAKA THE LABEL A CONCEPTUAL COLLECTION VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK S/S 22

KAKA THE LABEL

KaKa The Label opened the second night of Vancouver Fashion Week S/S 22. Before the opening of VFW, I had published a couple of preview posts, including KaKa The Label. I was Intrigued by the information on their website. This brand was formed in 2020 by five young women who had shared experiences through early art education. Working as a collective, the group produces a brand that celebrates their unique personalities.

In my opinion, little could be more exciting than a group of young talented women forming their fashion label. Fashion design is often a solitary act. However, the idea of working as a collective is an opportunity to share ideas and stimulate creativity.

The collection shared with us at VFW was a combined effort from fashion designer Angelina Wu and graphic designer Vivian Zhan.

“For SS22, I want to create a collection that feels personal to me. ‘Everlasting Play’ explores Beijing Opera in the face of fleeting modern life, mass production and consumerism. I want to highlight the juxtaposition between the cultural heritage that I grew up with, in contrast to the ever-growing universality of the 21st century. What does it mean to be “Made in China” ? -Angelina Wu (Fashion Designer)

Excerpt from VFW bio.

KAKA THE LABEL

‘Everlasting Play’ - A Review

Some fashion collections and runway shows are a concept or inspiration that tells a story. While at the same time always being about the clothes. A runway show is much like a play. It appears in three acts, the opening sets the stage for what is to follow, the second act is the meat of the collection, and the finale sums up what we've seen and possibly where we are going. This collection entitled "Everlasting Play" explores the Beijing Opera and concepts of traditional culture in our modern world. It asks the question, " What does it mean to be made in China".

In the first act, the opening look sets the stage for a collection emphasizing contradiction. The opening model carried a large traditional Chinese fan, wearing an ensemble that juxtaposed long and short, textures, and an original silhouette. The emphasis on the variety of textiles created a complex garment, suited to open a 21st-century interpretation of the Beijing Opera.

A male model wearing the traditional Chinese coolie hat is thought-provoking; a symbol of the peasant class, now considered by some a derogatory stereotype. The closing finale look is an avant-garde creation where the model carries an oversized fan. All this played out before a video screen presenting Chinese traditional black and white ink drawings by graphic designer Vivian Zahn. The entire collection supported the designer's quest of " What does it mean to be made in China ?". This was an exciting collection from a thoughtful young designer, who has an ability to challenge her audience as well as produce refined and stunning clothing.

IN CONLUSION

MY THOUGHTS

The runway can be a place to show beautiful clothing. It can also be a place that is thought provoking. The often interchangeable terms conceptual and avant-garde are words used to describe these collections based on ideas. They describe attire that questions, raises eyebrows, and expands our perception of clothing. The designers creating such pieces are often not interested in mass production, conventional beauty standards ,or traditional markets instead focusing on deconstruction, unconventional materials, technology and the unrestraint of creative expression. I am never happier to see young designers expressing unconventional ways to express themselves.

Please watch this place to see more from VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK S/S 22

CIAO FOR NOW J.ANDREW

KAKA THE LABEL, VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK, VFW, VFW S/S 2022