Interview
Haoyu Sun
1 Congratulations on your achievements in the French Fashion Awards! Could you share a bit about your awarded design, yourself or your studio?
I’m Haoyu Sun, a visual artist working at the intersection of fashion, culture, and heritage. My awarded series transforms traditional crafts into wearable art pieces. In my studio, we focus on experimentation—mixing textures, proportions, and movements—to translate cultural stories into fashion.
2 What’s the one piece in your portfolio that you feel best represents your ideas, and why?
The centrepiece of the series is a wearable sculptural dress that combines silk embroidery, velvet flowers, and gemstone accents. It represents my approach: integrating heritage techniques into contemporary forms while telling a story through visual language.
3 What inspired you to pursue a career in fashion design, and what motivates your creative journey?
I’m inspired by the textures, techniques, and narratives embedded in traditional crafts. What drives me is the desire to make these stories tangible and wearable, to let audiences experience heritage in a contemporary context.
4 What’s a day in your studio like—chaos, calm, or a bit of both?
A mix of both. We have moments of quiet focus, especially when detailing embroidery or beadwork, but also bursts of energy when experimenting with new combinations of materials or forms.
5 If you had to describe your design philosophy in three words, what would they be?
Narrative, craftsmanship, and wearable.
6 What was the “aha” moment when you knew you had to submit your winning designs to the award?
I realised this design could resonate with an international audience when the prototypes successfully communicated cultural stories beyond visual aesthetics. That’s when I decided to submit it.
7 If fashion had no rules, what’s the boldest design idea you would bring to life?
I would experiment with fully immersive wearable sculptures that challenge the boundary between clothing and art, where each piece tells a layered cultural narrative.
8 What’s a trend you wish would make a comeback—or disappear forever?
I hope heritage craftsmanship gains more attention and appreciation. Trends that prioritise speed over quality, on the other hand, should fade away.
9 How do you balance artistic freedom with the commercial demands of the fashion industry?
I prioritise the story and cultural significance in my designs. Commercial considerations are addressed by thoughtful material choices and limited edition runs rather than compromising the artistic vision.
10 If you could collaborate with any designer or artist, past or present, who would it be, and what would you create?
I’d love to work with Iris van Herpen, exploring the fusion of technology, sculpture, and traditional crafts to create future-forward wearable art.
11 What does success in fashion mean to you—fame, impact, legacy, or something else entirely?
For me, success is the lasting impact of a piece: when it communicates culture and sparks dialogue beyond the runway.
12 How do you see fashion evolving over the next decade, and where do you see yourself in that position?
Fashion will increasingly embrace cultural storytelling and sustainability. I see myself contributing as an artist, bridging heritage techniques and contemporary expression.
13 What’s the most surprising source of inspiration that has influenced your designs?
Unexpectedly, old family textiles and jewellery collections often inspire my patterns and textures, connecting personal history to contemporary design.
14 What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self as a designer, or those who are just starting out?
Stay curious about materials and history, and don’t compromise your voice for trends. Let cultural narratives guide your work.
15 If you could shape your life’s work into a single message to share with the world, what would it be?
Art and fashion are powerful tools to keep heritage alive; every piece can tell a story if we let it.
