B.F.A. Fashion Design
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Creating Fashion With a Skyward Vision
Johnny UN, an M.F.A. Fashion Design student, is making waves in the fashion world with his latest collection, challenging traditional norms and taking garments to new heights—literally.
UN was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and raised in mainland China. He then set out on a journey that took him to many different parts of the world. After almost seven years in Seoul, South Korea, he graduated from Korea University with a bachelor’s degree in business. He traveled to London for a year to follow his love for fashion. In 2020, his academic efforts led him to San Francisco, where he started his master’s program at the Academy of Art University.
His collection is not just a display set of outfits; it’s a testament to his journey. Inspired by a moment of luck when his leather jacket seemed to float in his hands, UN set a goal to transform outfits by giving them personality and character.
“I was trying to give garments identity, personality, life, and minds,” shared UN. For his collection, UN combined various textile techniques to push the limits of traditional fashion, focusing on fabric manipulation and unusual materials. Methods like a puff binder and burnout gave textiles structure and depth, and printing on tulle with puff additive produced a visually stunning effect. UN showcased his unique manufacturing technique by using bonding to merge garments with tulle fabric smoothly.
The collection contains a powerful message of hope for a world with no hate. UN uses his work as a means for social criticism, expressing his desire to see an end to injustice through subtle yet powerful images. His goals are to create his brand, present it on famous fashion runways, and influence positive shifts within the industry.
By daring to challenge gravity, UN is establishing the foundation for a new fashion era in which creativity has no limits. He encourages us to view fashion as an expression of storytelling, creativity, and hope.
Words by Jigar Nitin Shah, B.F.A. Fashion Communication and Styling
