Forme d’Expression
perugia, Italy
Couture trained Umbrian designer Koeun Park believes in a symbiotic relationship between the garment and its wearer. Born in Seoul, Koeun studied Haute Couture workmanship at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la mode Parisienne, Paris, before earning her masters at Instituto Marangoni in Milan in 1998. She worked for Giorgio Armani in Milan and Donna Karan in New York as head designer before starting Forme d’ Expression, where she sources fabrics from The House of Lyria’s Riccardo Bruni.
Known for her soft tailoring and elegant silhouettes, Koeun’s meticulous approach to construction exemplifies the brand’s philosophy of maintaining the integrity of the garment, as well as its inherent familiarity, even before the wearer dons it. Quietly elegant and unpretentious, Forme d’ Expression aims to create different forms of human expression through fashion. In each piece, seemingly classic designs reveal intricate craftsmanship and attention to detail that underscore Koeun’s inherently contemporary sensibility.
Uma Wang
Shanghai, China
Chinese designer Uma Wang creates rich, bold and internationally beloved clothing. Considered one of China’s first global labels, she transforms her inspirations from around the world into elegant fabrics and sophisticated shapes. The results are edgy collections radiating global originality.
Exhibiting undeniable skill, Uma Wang trained at the Chinese Textile University in Shanghai and Central St. Martins in London. She worked in production and designed for numerous labels for years before experimenting making her own knits and textiles. She expanded her designs to present a full collection, marking the start of her eponymous label in 2009. Since then she has been on an upward rise, amassing success and astounding the public without fail every year. She has showcased catwalk collections in London, Shanghai and Milan fashion weeks, with critical acclaim from industry insiders. In 2012, she received the honor of being chosen by the Council of Fashion Designers of America for its inaugural China exchange.
Uma Wang is one of the few designers who can render the most complex fabrics into something seemingly simple. By intimately knowing her fabrics, their weight and the way they move, Uma masterfully drapes silhouettes with a refined ease and simplicity, allowing the exquisite and unique textiles to shine as the focal point. Traveling between her two studios in Italy and Shanghai, her work always balances femininity and lightness with a strong avant-garde undertone. Textural, romantic, experimental and contemporary, Uma Wang is a designer to watch for years to come.
