youth.inAsia
MONDO is ecstatic to be covering Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week [FAT], one of Toronto’s most exciting fashion events. The [Pre-FAT] series features short and sweet interviews with some of this year’s participants. Stay tuned for coverage throughout the week, and click here for current and previous MONDO [FAT] articles.
By Helen Fylactou
Last year’s debut of youth.inAsia’s collection at [FAT] was theatrical, outlandish and experimental. It was a collection that boldly mixed pattered pencil skirts with short fur jackets. The complexity of the collection was impressive and the couture-based signature creations of youth.inAsia are unforgettable. Aidan Mayner and Josh Shier are the creators behind the label.
Collaborators since art school, Mayner and Shier’s geometric designs caught the eye of Sandra Robert, the editor-in-chief of IMAGOzine. Roberts loved youth.inAsia and helped propel them into editorials, television and fashion shows. The designs are beautifully sculpted with architectural shapes and help enhance the female form. This year, youth.inAsia will be presenting their lighter, Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Shier was kind enough to spare a few moments for MONDO magazine to share how he prepares for [FAT], here’s how it went.
MONDO: You premiered your Fall/Winter collection last year at[FAT]. Now that you’ve experienced it, how will you prepare differently?
youth.inAsia: Last year’s |FAT| was a fantastic experience and a huge stepping stone for the label—and there were definitely lessons learned. I began this collection preparing to prepare differently but alas, my old ways chased me down and this year has been a whirlwind, just like the past.
The theme of the day you are presenting your collection is Rage. How do you incorporate an emotion into your designs?
The theme is something that seemed to show itself in my collection upon closer inspection although initially I was heading in a softer direction. I found examples of rage in my drastically contrasted, almost clashing colour scheme; there is rage in the harsh graphic silhouette I have created and lastly, rage can be interpreted in a wild and dark runway presentation.
What can Torontonians expect from your 2010 collection?
A total shift in aesthetic and concept. A lighter side of youth.inAsia.
Do you have any rituals that you do while trying to create your collection?
As far as pre-show rituals? Maybe making everything as difficult as possible—does that count? (laughs) Wine and sleepless nights, I guess.
What can we expect from youth.inAsia in the future?
youth.inAsia will be available to buyers and the collection will be available for custom orders this season, as part of [FAT]’s Marketplace (April 25). I am looking to sell the line to a few local boutiques and I have ideas for the next collection already boiling over in my head.
