YII catwalk show report for LFW S/S 2016

Yii took SS16 as an opportunity to rediscover his inner child. Focused around the belief that every child is an artist, endlessly inspired by their everyday surroundings, the designer looked to the Purism movement and children’s literature, particularly Antoine Saint-Exupery’s Little Prince, to translate his own child-like curiosity into a striking collection.

Bare foot models padded along the catwalk in playful, dream-like designs with soft, boxy silhouettes. Yii does not differentiate between sex or gender in his designs, an idea that was clear in the clean, minimal lines and easy, loose-fitting shapes. Particularly appealing were the floor-length, all-in-one knits, which evoked the idea of a child’s comfort blanket transformed into an item of clothing.

Elsewhere, separates were layered to make the most of the contrasts between various textured and patterns. Everything felt so beautifully comfortable – pyjama-like shirts with loose-fitting pants, or a slouchy jumper thrown over a voluminous skirt.

White formed the base of the colour palette, and was built upon with pastel shades of blue, pink and green to create a pleasantly warm, sleepy aesthetic.

Abstract shapes and quirky, appliqué patterns introduced a slightly surreal element of fabric collaging; hand-crocheted shapes floated across knits and mesh, whilst knitted fish (a signature of Yii’s) swam across jackets and straight-cut dresses, revealing what the show notes described as a “hint of sugar coated dark humour.”

The final look consisted of loose, cropped pants and an oversized jacket baring the phrase, in chunky appliquéd letters, “We Never Grow” – the title of the overall collection. A hugely creative, enjoyable show, and a reminder of the importance of never losing the restless curiosity of childhood.

Grace Cain
Photos: Krish Nagari