Yuwen Qiu
Collection
Uniformity by Design
Built to assign roles, impose structure, and ensure we remain in line, uniformity thrives in spaces like the modern office. It’s a place where identity is flattened beneath fluorescent lights and the quiet hum of machines. We’re trained to be efficient, composed, and productive, even as the body tenses and the mind begins to fray.
This collection is born from that fracture. It explores the psychological toll of life lived on a loop: wake, work, repeat. Rooted in the aesthetics of office wear, cold palettes, rigid silhouettes, and uniformity, each look in the collection reflects a world where structure becomes suffocating and control breeds chaos.
Cropped and constructed with pinstripe suiting wool, this jacket features a white double-layered collar and exaggerated flared sleeves in the same material.
The asymmetrical skirt wraps tightly around the hips and thighs before flaring into a twisted fishtail silhouette. Worn with the buttons all fastened for a clean finish, or left undone and secured with the tie belt, creating a silhouette reminiscent of a collar and tie.
Halter-neck dress constructed from white cotton that resembles crumpled paper. With a silhouette that curves around the body in warped lines rather than falling straight. At the neckline, belt loops trim the collar’s edge, threaded with white lace and tied off to the side.
Sculptural gray suiting spirals across the body in a diagonal twist, distorting the logic of traditional tailoring. Slanted pinstripes follow the garment’s warped geometry, while a layered skirt of crinkled tulle billows below in soft tones of gray, blue, and white. Completed with a matching sailor hat, trimmed with belt loops, lace, and loose ribbons.
Crafted from an ivory wool-blend tweed, this structured jacket blends softness with formality. When fully buttoned, it forms a clean boat neckline. Worn with the top button unbuttoned, and the jacket reveals a hidden detail: lining that mirrors the look of lined paper, stitched subtly in red and blue thread.
Asymmetrical, form-fitting coat that sharply contours the body, emphasizing the silhouette with precise tailoring. Highlighted by an exaggerated collar that frames the neckline with boldness, with a line of buttons running from top to hem.
Bio
Canadian designer Yuwen Qiu is interested in the hidden structures that govern our daily lives. Her work explores systems of control, social conformity, and the quiet influence of repetition. With a focus on tailoring and construction, she uses clothing to reflect how individuals navigate and adapt within these larger frameworks. Her designs challenge rigid expectations while embracing complexity and contradiction.
CONTACT:
yuwenq21@gmail.com
@yuwenqiuuu