JAKELIU

The spring summer 2021 collection, Self Explorations, was borne from the exploration of limitations, whether involuntary or self-imposed. Originally, my idea was to produce a physical collection of past collections. This line never came to fruition due to COVID-19; the pandemic that has left millions around the world quarantined with no idea when life will return to normalcy. For half a year, I struggled to find creativity and inspiration, going as far as cornering myself into isolation and doubt of the future. Within the fear of the limits, I found myself in deep thought and meditation, soon realizing I needed to focus on the things that bring me inner peace and happiness. With this newfound synergy, I knew bringing the self-exploration angle was the pathway to creating this new line. As an emerging designer, I feel the need to not only be forward thinking and environmentally responsible with the way I create and construct. So we produced this zero waste and sustainable digital collection, via collaborating with Australian graphic designer, Elliot Fry and Japanese 3D digital artist, Aya with the rendering of the body parts print patterns and garment generating.

Followed the unbalanced silhouette within my 2020 collection and a merging of sports and tailoring genres. Conceptually I am interested in the depiction of the non-idealized and what this can say about a garment's relationship to the body. Through rigorous toiling and sampling of form and material combinations I settled upon the backpack as a simple but recognizable distortion of a ‘neutral silhouette’, especially when worn under outerwear. Something that was also really important to me within this was that I produce functional unisex-wear. I have focused more on the shirting and tailoring for this new collection, and also swimwear. A lot of the character building within the collection was also informed by icon David Bowie even recreated one of his iconic looks. This influence also carried through into many of the 1970s archetypes explored in the collection such as open front disco shirts, rain mac coat and flared pants  as well as  the color / graphic decisions.