Class of 2021: How digital distortion inspired this FIT grad’s final collection
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
The idea of digital distortion has never been more prevalent than in 2020, a year plagued by misinformation and fake news. For FIT student Yitao Li, she channelled that distortion into her graduate collection of misshapen, multi-coloured garments.
Courtesy of @esthiliyt
NAME YITAO LI
AGE 22
LOCATION New York, United States
COURSE BFA Fashion Design Womenswear
UNIVERSITY Fashion Institute of Technology
STAR SIGN Scorpio
DESCRIBE YOUR DEGREE IN THREE WORDS Playful, Fun, Sexy.
Jeffrey Thomson: Tell us about your final collection - what was the inspiration behind it?
Yitao Li: The inspiration for my collection was the idea of distortion, which by meaning is the alteration of the original shape of something. In the digital world in which we find ourselves so completely ensconced, I am constantly confronted with distortion whether it’s associated with media, art, or people’s biased opinions.
JT: How did you find your time at the FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY?
YL: The first two years we learnt a lot of technical things which I think was really helpful towards building our final collection, we also did a lot of conceptual pieces as well. And then the last 18 months were not at all expected - Covid came and during lockdown we basically learnt everything from YouTube.
JT: Did you always know you wanted to study here?
YL: I don’t make a lot of plans, I just make decisions along the way. I ended up where I am and I’m very grateful for all the opportunities and experiences I’ve been given. During my four years at FIT I studied abroad at CSM and Polimoda, and did four internships during the semester. Those experiences are unique and helped me realise who I am as an artist.
JT: When looking back on your first project and now to your final collection, what springs to mind?
YL: My journey traveling from country to country definitely contributed a lot to my taste.
JT: What’s the biggest misconception about studying fashion?
YL: That it's an easy and glamorous industry.
JT: If you could go back, would you have done anything different?
YL: No, I think I learned a lot from every experience, good or bad, but I wish I had started fashion at a younger age. I have a very traditional Asian dad - he almost got me into doing a math degree!
JT: What advice would you give to those thinking about studying fashion? Is a formal fashion education for everyone?
YL: Now that I feel like anyone can get into fashion, I think a fashion university is helpful but not necessary. There are many people I’ve met who got into fashion mid-way from business, law, or even math and they're doing great. So even if you don’t have a plan for now, life is still going to lead you to amazing places.
JT: What’s your biggest fashion faux pas?
YL: Stayed up too late the night before the final presentation and cut a hole in one of my final garments at the centre front.
JT: The best thing about studying in New York?
YL: The people around me, garment district, industry opportunities.
JT: And the worst?
YL: The people around me, transportation.
JT: When you’re rushing towards a deadline, what keeps you going?
YL: Knowing that I’ll get to wear what I’m making very soon.
JT: How are you celebrating post-graduation life?
YL: Making my own pieces under no one’s supervision!
JT: What’s next for Yitao?
YL: Getting a job for now, and eventually starting my own business.
JT: And lastly, what does fashion mean to you?
YL: To me, fashion is my canvas where I express myself as an artist but it's also a way for everyone to show people who they are and what they believe in.
See more from Check-Out’s Class of 2021 here.