Nana: Fashion has infinite possibilities, and new power is born from it. As a carrier of culture and times, fashion encompasses everything. From trendy to traditional culture, from celebrities, idols to everyone’s daily life, and from West to East, it is our discourse, our power, our time. Through Asian Voice, we hope to spread the local Asian fashion culture to the world by moving cross languages and borders.
In this edition of ASIAN VOICE, we introduce Leeann Huang, an incredibly imaginative designer brand based in LA. Since a young age, Leeann Huang has been captivated by the captivating imagery and surrealistic visions depicted in female-led hero shows like Charlie’s Angels. She transforms her fantasies and ideas into reality through her own brand, Leeann Huang. When wearing Leeann Huang, one cannot help but envision a delightful, quirky, courageous, and intelligent woman.
The brand draws inspiration from a symbolic source: fruit. Growing up on a pineapple farm, Leeann Huang’s father would educate her about fruit picking, while her mother would slice fruit for her and her brother every evening. Fruit, for her, embodies a sense of being surrounded by love and joy, which makes Leeann Huang’s world perpetually brimming with colors, dreams, and vitality. As she states,”The clothes are all very funny and surreal and I envision people dancing in them.”
Nana: What motivated you to start the brand and name it “Leeann Huang” initially after graduation from CSM?
Leeann Huang: It was a gradual series of occurrences that happened in my life that gave me the push to finally focus and work on my own clothing brand. I always had the idea that I would work for large companies for many years until I felt safe enough to start my own business. However, graduating in March 2020 during the pandemic and working in very toxic creative jobs made me realize that I would much rather work for myself. I had been working professionally as an art director and textile designer, occasionally posting my own work, and it kept growing and selling out on its own. After a while, my own work could sell enough to sustain me. My work is deeply personal, and I have trouble finding another name that suits me, even though I would rather people not know who I am.
Nana: The brand showcases the vibrant and empowering essence of women by incorporating vivid hues and innovative aesthetics. How would you envision a woman wearing Leeann Huang, reflecting her unique style in your imagination?
Leeann Huang: I think my vision of women pretty much started in television and cartoons. My inspirations are the women in Charlie’s Angels or Amy Sedaris or Patti Harrison. Beautiful, goofy, and alluring in their own unique way. I want women to explore and incorporate more color and texture using my clothes and just have fun! The clothes are all very funny and surreal and I envision people dancing in them.
Nana: The brand excels in utilizing extraordinary materials to convey a distinct fashion perspective. What, in your opinion, is the most remarkable material that remains relatively unfamiliar to the public and astonishes you the most? How do you incorporate such materials into your designs?
Leeann Huang: I think how clothes feel when worn is extremely important and is not often as considered as how they appear. I go explore a lot of fun flea markets and niche conventions and try to find objects and textures that appeal to me, and then see if I can make it wearable and comfortable using a traditional fabrication technique. This can be beading, knitting, sewing, however.
I am currently still surprised that people still use PVC and not any of the alternatives that exist today. It has super toxic fumes and PVC fabrics breaks or peels or rips easily, yet it’s in all faux leathers and waterproof coatings. My company uses TPU alternatives that have low toxicity, more durability and flexibility, and are recyclable.
Nana: Fruit serves as a significant source of inspiration for the brand. How do you typically derive your design ideas from this motif?
Leeann Huang: Fruit motifs come from my Mom and Dad. My dad grew up on a pineapple farm in Taiwan and would always teach me how to pick the ripest fruit. And my mom’s love language is cutting fruit for me and my brother every night. Fruit reminds me of joy and love and it seems to make everyone around me happy seeing these motifs in my clothes.
Nana: How do you come up with every collection?
Leeann Huang: I usually start by going about markets, galleries, and living my life. I start collecting things that appeal to me and kind of keep working through the common connections and ideas that come about. Usually I spend a lot of time in the library finding visual references and textures to piece these concepts together. After I use these references to create textile and print ideas that I can turn into fabric, clothes, or accessories.
Nana: Can you share with us the narrative behind a particular season that left a lasting impression on you?
Leeann Huang: One project I still think about and still gives me inspiration is my 2018 BA graduation collection where I made edible clothing. I was so depressed that year and the only thing that consistently brought me joy was food. I spent a lot of time cooking and watching those “Is it cake?” shows. I then made so many food-related pieces like a chocolate knitted vest and Orange beaded trousers, and some are even now in museums and books about food and fashion! I still have so many ideas I want to try.
Nana: Do you have any advice for our readers who are seeking to find a way to start their own brand in the fashion industry just like you?
Leeann Huang: Just start! I think everyone’s journey is different and never linear. Make pieces in the end that make you happy and express who you are. There are already basic clothes out there, so make something extraordinary to you.
Just start! I think everyone’s journey is different and never linear.
