Kwen — BFA Fashion Design 2025

Collection

Where Am I Going When I’m N(0)t In A Room

Every time when I walk on the street, I just like to take out my phone and take some random pictures of things in my surroundings that catch my interest. I always take the subway when I travel in the New York City, and I took a lot pictures of the train. Influenced by sci-fi films such as Metropolis, The Matrix, Blade Runner, etc, I see the subway and urban transportation as symbols of futurism. It’s like a giant metal beast, winding underneath the city, pumping the breath of this metropolis. The city is a colossal system, a sophisticated yet grimy machine in which we live. It’s fast; it’s full of passion; it’s also decadent. And this is urban life.

As a Gen Z, my childhood was spent on the internet and a digitally technological world with economic prosperity. The future to me has always been given a sense of sci-fi mystique and allure. Yet in this post-pandemic era of global economic recession, it’s contradictory to what I’ve been told in my younger age. Beholding this uncertainty and confusion, where are our generation heading to?

And that is the question I’m asking: Where Am I Going When I’m N(0)t In A Room? My thesis collection is a comfort for my current sense of uncertainty and an expression of hope for the future. Inspired by New York’s dynamics and velocity, as well as sci-fi art aesthetics, this collection aims to shape a vision of “adaptive urban futurism” — a young, bold, vibrant, free, inclusive, and self-defying image of futuristic fashion.

In this collection, urban wardrobe essentials like shirts and denim are reimagined and merged with futuristic motorcycling gear. Drawing inspiration from my cultural background growing up in China, I’ve also incorporated the silhouette of traditional changshan into the cutting of the jacket and the coat, mixing up both Eastern and Western forms. Through deconstruction, exquisite craftsmanship and reconstruction, I challenge the traditional forms and explore new alternative silhouettes. Zipper plays a major role in this collection. They are used to reshape the structure of garment openings and closures.

Perhaps this uncertainty will not disappear and fashion cannot give us the answers to life. I don’t even know where I am going after leaving this room. But fashion still can create dreams. 21st century was once the future that people longed for, and now a quarter of it has already passed. May we always hold on to our hopes and dreams for the future in these chaotic times, and may we find the courage to keep moving forward.

Bio

Kwen is a fashion designer specializing in all-gender and non-gender clothing. As a non-binary, gender has always been secondary to them—what matters most is the design itself. For Kwen, garments are created with form, function, and concept at the forefront, not defined by binary gender norms at the first place.

Growing up as part of Gen Z, immersed in the digital world and internet culture since a very young age, Kwen’s aesthetic is deeply influenced by sci-fi art and futurism. Their work often reflects an imaginative, future-forward-looking vision rooted in both personal identity and their perception of the surrounding environment.

While studying at Parsons, Kwen developed strong technical skills in pattern-making, tailoring, and digital garment simulation using CLO 3D. This foundation allows them to create designs that are not only visually striking but also meet a high standard of craftsmanship and construction.

Kwen previously worked as a design assistant for the brand Agbobly, gaining a full year of hands-on industry experience. During this time, they contributed to the creation of the brand’s collection released in February 2024. Through this role, Kwen developed extensive skills in design development, pattern making, and technical flat sketching.

Instagram: @kk_kwenkwen Email: cskkwen@gmail.com +1 (917)853-8342