September 12, 2019

Rui Zhou Spring Summer 2020

by Morgan Vickery

Spring Summer 2020 is Rui Zhou’s first collection post-Parsons graduation, and it’s filled with stunning melancholic nuances. Allegories of an imperfect relationship build for Zhou each season, with long-distance as this collection’s anecdote.

Blue hued stretch-knits cling together by the support of a few Swarovski crystal pearls, symbolizing the stretch and pull of star-crossed lovers. The variation in knit fabrics and patterns textualize layers in a fashion which glorifies the human form.

Zhou is on a promising trek. Not only in her exquisite originality but also in espousing journeys of love in all forms and blemishes. I spoke with Rui amidst her fashion week presentation to discuss the specifics of the SS20 collection.

What were your inspirations for this collection?

My inspiration is long-distance relationships. I imagine the ocean between two lovers, so I use a lot of blue colors to express this feeling. Very melancholic almost.

What are some of the common fabrics and materials that you use throughout?

I use very elastic knitted fabric linked with pearls. It shows the detail on the skin, so it's really sensitive and emotional.

I love the contrast of the fabric with skin color. You can redesign my pieces yourself because each of my looks has two or more layers, which is something that interests me.

Your website landing page reads "love what makes you you." How do your garments reflect self-love and body positivity?

In my last collection, the inspiration relates to intimate relationships between family, like me, my mom and sister, and I express imperfection in the nature of love. For this collection, it's about long-distance relationships. This also makes me think of something untouchable in a way that's romantic and beautiful. The imperfection of things reminds me to "love what makes you you." When you feel like you're not confident, just believe in yourself and believe that your experiences will bring you a better life.