Zhuoxi Zhao

Zhuoxi Zhao

Collection
Not everyone is born with everything laid out before them... Sometimes, it’s the dirt beneath our feet that quietly shapes the path toward a life of meaning and growth. We shouldn’t resent how muddy or messy it gets along the way. There’s beauty in the struggle, in the earth-stained hands and worn-out soles that carry us forward. The footprints we leave behind and the marks we carry on our bodies are tender reminders of our journey—evidence of our effort, our love, and our unwavering passion for life. These traces tell a story not of failure, but of strength, of becoming, of hearts that choose to keep moving no matter how uneven the road.
Video: Starring: Henry Montel

OTOTD (On Top Of The Dirt)

We learn from the things we see and love throughout our lives; these experiences build our own personalities and perspectives on this world. Zhuoxi believes the same but has an impaired disposition; everything seems to be presented as silhouettes and vague contours in his mind. He cannot see the details clearly but does remember certain frames of it, surprisingly. The window across the street from his home projected a scene that will be fully ingrained in his mind forever. The incessant smiles on construction workers' faces surprised him. Even with the dirt on their faces, the scuffs on their clothes, and the bread crumbs on their mustaches, the smiles dissolved every adversity in their lives and motivated them to work harder to have a better life. Zhuoxi wants to deliver this type of feeling to others. The collection aims to showcase the insights from depicting the details of the designer’s personal experience, such as the shape of the window and the scuffs and patches on the workers’ clothes, as well as clothing theories of workwear in both American and Oriental fashion analogies to reflect true lifestyles and forms, to attenuate the anxiety the majority of people are undergoing, and to inspire people to take pride in what they have accomplished. People fear living a tortuous life, believing that exhaustion and struggles in life show their failure as human beings, and they genuinely hope to circumscribe it. The collection aims to soothe people and encourage them to take pride in and enjoy their present experiences by capturing the details of memories from Zhuoxi’s first realization of a deep affirmation of life.
People should not feel ashamed or feckless about their ability and their identity within the community. Everyone is a jade that can shine brightly and exorbitantly. People should feel proud of their positions in this world and should be willing to express themselves and love themselves unexceptionally. The collection intends to galvanize people to be more passionate and zealous about life and enjoy life delightfully, and it also aims to showcase the insights on becoming a better human being by translating certain theories and ideologies from traditional cultural beliefs into the details and construction of clothes. Presenting more primitive and straightforward treatments on the garments to make designs more interesting to people allows the audience to spark interest in trying out the garment even without resonating with the story and messages behind the designs.
When the sunshine hits the window what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it telling yourself to rise and shine or is it closing the blinds?The road of life never existed by itself, the sweat, the tears formed the ground.The paint, the stains can show you’re gross and it can also show your extraordinary growth.
Exploration in workwear study. Presenting both personal connection and historical authenticity of workwear in the collection. Showing workwear’s relationship with military wearthrough shared design features and material selection for garments.
Image: Similar uses of fabric between workwear and military wear such as denim, heavy cotton, canvas. More elevated use of fabric includes nylon fabric in workwear and suede in military inspired clothings.
Image: Presenting construction understanding from documents showcasing the theory of built for workwear and oriental clothing structure.
Image: Tracing the contour of patches on old clothes and applying oil based ink over fabrics to create worn marks on garment.
Image: Forming the structure of windows using wovened belts and wooden pieces with plaid patterns printed on top.
Video: Starring: Henry Montel

Bio

Zhuoxi is a designer whose work is shaped by personal memories, emotional sensitivity, and everyday human experience. Often remembering the world in fragments and impressions, Zhuoxi transforms these subtle moments into garments that reflect resilience, identity, and quiet beauty. Drawing inspiration from workwear, daily life, and traditional cultural ideologies, Zhuoxi’s designs speak to the lived experience—highlighting the marks, scuffs, and stories carried in clothing. Through texture, form, and feeling, each piece invites connection and self-recognition. Zhuoxi’s work encourages people to embrace their own path, take pride in their journey, and love who they are without hesitation.

We view the world through our own lenses, using not just our eyes but our emotions to truly see what surrounds us. I love my life, and I love the people I’ve met along the way—they’ve taught me the unspoken rules of the world and the mindset we should adopt as we walk our own paths. I often wonder: what was it about that window across from my home that captivated me so deeply? Why was I so drawn to the constant hammering and drilling? Was it the smile on their faces or the scuffs on their shirts? I don’t think so. The window didn’t show me much—just vague silhouettes framed by the wooden slats that formed a grid. And yet, it mattered to me. When the window finally opened, I saw more: dusty floors, demolished roofs, and thick wooden beams torn from the space—it was a construction site. Amid the mess, I noticed the workers’ jackets covered in scuffs and patches, but I also saw their joy. They laughed easily, even about something as small as a fray on a sleeve or a breadcrumb dangling from a mustache. I loved that feeling—the kind of liveliness that gives us confidence and courage, even when life is hard. It reminded me of the strength it takes to face obstacles with a smile. I admired how accomplished they looked after finishing a part of the house, how they introduced themselves through their work and effort to build a better life. I loved how they brought their full hearts and passion into everything, embracing the bitter, the sour, and the sweet of life.

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