Inside Haoyu Sun’s Creative Process When Fashion Turns into Sculptures

The centrepiece of the series is a wearable sculptural dress that combines silk embroidery, velvet flowers, and gemstone accents. It represents my approach: integrating heritage techniques into contemporary forms while telling a story through visual language.

I’m inspired by the textures, techniques, and narratives embedded in traditional crafts. What drives me is the desire to make these stories tangible and wearable, to let audiences experience heritage in a contemporary context.

A mix of both. We have moments of quiet focus, especially when detailing embroidery or beadwork, but also bursts of energy when experimenting with new combinations of materials or forms.

Narrative, craftsmanship, and wearable.

I realised this design could resonate with an international audience when the prototypes successfully communicated cultural stories beyond visual aesthetics. That’s when I decided to submit it.

I would experiment with fully immersive wearable sculptures that challenge the boundary between clothing and art, where each piece tells a layered cultural narrative.

I hope heritage craftsmanship gains more attention and appreciation. Trends that prioritise speed over quality, on the other hand, should fade away.

I prioritise the story and cultural significance in my designs. Commercial considerations are addressed by thoughtful material choices and limited edition runs rather than compromising the artistic vision.

I’d love to work with Iris van Herpen, exploring the fusion of technology, sculpture, and traditional crafts to create future-forward wearable art.

For me, success is the lasting impact of a piece: when it communicates culture and sparks dialogue beyond the runway.

Fashion will increasingly embrace cultural storytelling and sustainability. I see myself contributing as an artist, bridging heritage techniques and contemporary expression.

Unexpectedly, old family textiles and jewellery collections often inspire my patterns and textures, connecting personal history to contemporary design.

Stay curious about materials and history, and don’t compromise your voice for trends. Let cultural narratives guide your work.

Art and fashion are powerful tools to keep heritage alive; every piece can tell a story if we let it.