INFDARK After London Fashion Week: Transformable Design and a Story-First Philosophy

Your brand has just presented its latest collection at London Fashion Week. What did this moment represent for you personally and professionally?

Personally, it kind of says I can finally have a little rest and chill a bit.
Professionally speaking, I’m already trying to figure out what we’re going to present next time.

For those discovering INFDARK for the first time, how would you define the essence and philosophy of the brand?

The brand has a very strong basis in deconstructed pattern-making. We create many pieces that have transformable functions — for example, a tote bag turns into a T-shirt, and trousers turn into a skirt — so they can accompany the wearer longer and reduce fashion waste. We also apply lots of cultural elements in prints and details. I hope every single piece speaks its own story.

What was the core idea behind the collection you presented in London, and what emotions or reflections did you want the audience to experience?

This collection is about showing the path of how design evolves instead of just showing the final outcome. The collection was separated into small groups; in each group, they share the same design unit but are presented in different ways. So the clothing itself is more fluid, responsive, and alive.
I don’t want to set a concept for people about how they should feel. Actually, by INF’s principle, people should see everything through their own eyes — to digest it and raise their own feelings. Instead of being instructed by someone, even the designer. And that’s actually the most important idea for fashion: free, and as an individual, showing themselves.

Your work often explores transformation and multifunctionality. How do these concepts reflect the way you see contemporary life?

I think nowadays fashion is kidnapped too much by digital trends. Everyone is carefully playing conservative cards instead of really making new things — which I think is a designer’s duty: to constantly create new things and indicate new points of view for the next decade.

Sustainability is frequently discussed in fashion today. How does INFDARK approach responsibility — not as a trend, but as a long-term commitment?

Like I said above, INF is not only using recycled materials in design — for example, 3D-printed shoes made from recycled plastic. But the most important thing is to create transformable pieces that could accompany the wearer longer and help stop fashion waste. Instead of doing something after waste is created, we prefer to try to stop it from happening.

How does your cultural background influence your creative language and aesthetic decisions?

Taiwanese culture definitely helped shape my design on some level, however that’s not the only influence. I try to read culture and stories from all over the world, because they interest me a lot — histories, music, novels. And now they’re just part of me already.

What does the creative process look like for you – from the first concept to the final runway piece?

I always read before I start anything — dive into the story behind every concept, try to dig out more story behind it. And I will try to create my own version of the story out of those old ones. So every design, print, or even makeup was drawn from the story I create myself.

Many designers balance artistry and business. As both designer and brand owner, how do you navigate this dual role?

We pay a lot of attention to our customers. It’s very helpful for a designer to listen to customers and talk to them to understand how they feel. I guess you can say we learn from each other. For example, my favourite thing is when we announce a new piece that has three ways to wear it, and our customer comes back next season with a fourth or fifth way and says, “Aha — you guys didn’t think about that, did you?”

In an era where fashion moves extremely fast, how do you protect depth and meaning in your work?

I don’t create anything without a proper background story, and that will always be my way of design.

What does individuality mean to you today, and how can clothing empower identity?

I think individuality is being sacrificed by digital trends. Massive trends take over too much. People are afraid of being different from others. Younger groups use tags to label themselves to find identification — which I think is a pity. Life itself contains so many possibilities, and it’s important to constantly try new things and really enjoy themselves, be themselves.

After presenting at London Fashion Week, how do you see the global positioning of INFDARK evolving?

There’s no stop once you create a business. I won’t set any single goal, because we want to be everywhere we can.

Looking ahead, what is the next chapter for you and for the brand?

Hard to say. I’ll let you know with the next presentation.