Interview with Silvanna Shen from United States

I grew up in China, born to an artistic family where my dad was a furniture designer, and he was once the most famous art director in China and my mom is a Photo Re-toucher. I am grateful to have grown up in such an atmosphere in which love, mutual understanding and confidence were established. The more I became aware of this, the more I realized what I want to be and the more I longed for something better than what the world had to offer.

I am a fashion designer who wants to share the wisdom of my own culture that is combined with New York City's influence. My goal is to convey a meaningful message through my designs, offering a fresh perspective and redefining the fashion landscape.

My brand, SILVANNASHEN is the epitome of modernity and Chinese old buildings. Its unconditional dedication to design combines simplicity and naturalism with sustainable material and exceptional craftsmanship. The refinement of bamboo and the perfection of details give form to an approach to fashion defined by peace.

Design is like offering a solution that meets needs and also doubles as a unique form of media, reflecting who you are.

I have always had a constant fascination with multifunctional and structurally simple designs. I believe it stems from my environment and background, shaping my aesthetic.

There is no "good" or "bad" design, everyone could design if they wanted to. I don't want to put boundaries on designing just like beautiful or ugly, it depends if anyone likes it or not.

My design style is simple, clean, and sustainable.

I've always drawn inspiration from traditional Chinese furniture and buildings. The incredible craftsmanship has particularly captivated me with the use of bamboo as a material. My aim is to craft an escape fashion product tailored for city dwellers—a space that seamlessly intertwines people, the environment, and fashion.

Absolutely! While it's common for designers to draw from their cultural roots, my goal is to elevate beyond typical cultural symbolism. I strive to fuse traditional elements with contemporary influences and address current issues in my designs. It's essential for me to honor my heritage, yet equally important to showcase the evolution of who I am today.

This is my first time winning an award and it means the world to me! This awards is also proof that my work is getting attention.

This is the result of a year's dedication in my thesis—the creation named 'Simple Finals.' It's been a journey, and when everything finally fell into place, it marked a revolutionary milestone. It's not just a project; it mirrors who I am, emphasizes sustainability, and blends my cultural essence with the energy of New York City.

The biggest challenge would be the development of this project, the construction of how bamboo bends itself and each piece combines into a fashion performance.

This winning will help motivate me to do more design in the future.

Diverse categories, varied backgrounds in juries, limitless opportunities.

The wisdom of Chinese craftsmen has always been my muse!

I think most designs will be combined with AI for the next 5-10 years but a small part will keep developing the traditional into nowadays uses.

Go ahead and submit your work, the last thing you should do is waste time thinking “Should I do it or not”.

Being a student in a design school made me realize how competitive my classmates are, most skills I did not get from my professor rather than my classmates. Therefore, I recommend being in the environment that will be your best path to improve your skills.

The great thanks will go with my dad. He was a designer himself, and thanks to him, I developed my own aesthetic and never gave up on my childish dream, a fashion designer. He has always pushed me into becoming better and without him I would never become who I am right now, even in America.

Keep pushing yourself, learn from others, and always gather different information, not just fashion or design news but more current world affairs.