Chris Seng

Chris Seng

Collection
Image: “This collection was born from the stillness of my grandmother’s living room—a space untouched since my family first sought refuge here. The plastic-covered couches, faded diplomas, and artificial plants speak to a legacy of survival and aspiration. This room holds the ghosts of sacrifice and the dreams of a better life. My designs mirror this layered past—a tribute to my family’s journey, frozen in time, yet always alive in fabric, form, and memory.”
Image: “This look pairs Cambodian sarong fabric—traditionally worn as everyday loungewear—with a dark purple silk reminiscent of garments worn by Cambodian royalty. The juxtaposition honors both the resilience and duality of my heritage: the softness of home and the strength of survival. The interior lining, often hidden, holds cultural memory and intimacy, while the distressed royal silk on the outside speaks to endurance through displacement. Together, they form a body that remembers.”
Image: Destress Cambodian Silk
Image: Lineup of The Lost Princessa

Bio

Chris’s collection is a deeply personal reflection on her journey—an homage to her family’s resilience and her own transformation. It embodies the challenges she has faced while striving to create the life she envisions. Her family’s survival of the Khmer Rouge mirrors the fall of Cambodia’s kingdom, and the 2015 return of Cambodia’s princess after the devastation of genocide serves as a powerful symbol. As Chris embraces her femininity as a trans woman, she sees herself as a lost princess seeking refuge, navigating the delicate space between past traumas and future aspirations.By blending the opulence of French 1800s colonial garments with traditional Cambodian attire, Chris captures the lasting impact of colonization on her homeland—a nod to the historical complexities that have shaped her heritage. As a designer, she explores adolescence through the lenses of urban life, queerness, and Black feminist studies, drawing connections between her personal narrative and the broader experiences of marginalized communities. This collection not only tells her story but also speaks to the erasure of royalty and power—a reality continuously imposed on people of color.The grand silhouettes of French colonial ballgowns, with their dramatic volume, introduce a sense of theatricality that Chris adores. Infused with the richness of Cambodian golds, vibrant colors, and intricate textiles, these elements bring to life the vision of the Lost Princessa she seeks to convey. Through this collection, Chris reclaims her identity and heritage while reflecting on the persistent themes of survival, erasure, and self-discovery.

Chris’s work exists at the intersection of fashion, history, and cultural reclamation, drawing from multiple disciplines to shape her creative practice. Her collection, The Lost Princessa, reflects themes of identity, colonization, and self-discovery through a fusion of French colonial and traditional Cambodian garments. To contextualize her work within a broader creative field, she aligns with practitioners who explore historical fashion, cultural hybridity, and identity reclamation through performance, textiles, and storytelling.


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