SS 20
"The future resides within designer P.J's inspiration. This is why she has always been intrigued by uniform elements, AI, science fiction films, and animations, feeling a deep connection with them. Many of her imaginative concepts stem from the phantoms projected by film and the internet. Her own realm of imagination mirrors this, as does her design aesthetics.
One of the inspirations for the new season arises from Mamoru Oshii's animated film 'Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'. In this film, the boundary between reality and fiction, as well as human and robot, blurs into ambiguity—a notion that captivates the designer. P.J discovered and read the novel mentioned in the film, 'L'Eve Future'. This science fiction work was penned by Comte de Villiers de L'Isle-Adam and published in 1886. Astonishingly, it has already delved deeply into contemporary themes. The author stated, 'If our gods and hopes are mere scientific phenomena, then we must concede that our love is also a scientific phenomenon.' What constitutes the ultimate dream and destiny of human beings? Is it the ceaseless flow of material desires or innocent love? If innocent love proves absent, can modern science and technology conjure a 'perfect lover'? This theme is echoed in the new-generation Hollywood film 'Her'. The so-called 'perfect lover' is merely a solitary illusion. After all, this all circles back to the topic of human solitude. As for technology, does it intensify our future's loneliness?
For P.J, solitude has remained a recurring theme in her contemplations. Indeed, humans, by nature, are solitary beings. She embraces and accepts this solitude. Even in an era of revelry, her fashion continues to tread a unique path—evolving from tentative exploration to active pursuit of breakthroughs and liberation, maintaining detachment from the world. Her fashion serves as a reflection of herself: boundary-shattering and undefined. She crafts ready-to-wear garments with a wild temperament that may seem unapproachable and uncontrollable, yet consistently astonishes through appreciation.
'We all harbor lofty ideals for love, yet struggle to attain our idealized state.' The designer is an aesthete in the quest for love, while her conclusion bears shades of pessimism and fatalism. Upon deeper reflection, this may well serve as an interpretation and relief. Hence, her design language is restrained—eschewing seductive affectation, adhering to feminism, and existing solely for itself.
The new season's palette is more varied: black, white, red, purple, and dark green—all resembling shadowy phantoms navigating a solitary journey through future space. Red and black remain the predominant hues, etched with the designer's signature and carrying her persistent spiritual sensibility. The element of embroidery endures—both Chinese and futuristic. The designer has consistently favored and emphasized the infusion of Oriental elements, although these are subtle forms rather than ostentatious displays.
This series represents the designer's contemplative exploration of life and the future within the internet era. Solitude is the underlying theme, yet it is an active and introspective solitude. The designer conveyed that she harbors no steadfast attachment to the physical. If the soul could be transformed into cyber data, she would consider giving it a try. Much like in 'Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence', Batou remained, and he didn't feel alone, for he recalled the Major's last words, 'In the internet, I'm always with you.'"
