I am from China and lived there for twenty-five years before coming to Antwerp. I created this label, Di Du while studying my master’s when I was in school at the Antwerp Fashion Department.

Fashion, to me, is about telling a story, building a dream where people want to live in. I wanted to use fashion as a language to express myself to the world. I still think it’s a risky decision sometimes, especially when I’m facing a big problem or difficulty. But isn’t it also what makes it fun? If everything is safe, why would we be interested in it?

The most important skill I’ve developed after studying is to be able to deal with multiple works and lots of pressure. Also, never be too satisfied with your work.

I didn’t feel I had much freedom in my first two years. However, in the last year, I was much more free. In school, I had teachers doubt my aesthetics; it was hard to persist on what I love when they didn’t like it, but I’m happy that I did what I wanted to, believed in the thing I saw in my head and realized it.

I had always been into cold-tone colours but not pastels before. With this collection, I wanted to challenge myself to step out my comfort zone by using colours I used to dislike, like pastels. Before this, I thought they didn’t speak loudly enough or that they were less powerful, but after I dug into my research and mood board, I was telling myself, ‘Actually, the power of pastel colours is more sublime. It gives more quality and space to the garment’s dimension.’ I like to work with the contrast of materials, I love the dramatic conflict that hard and soft materials bring to each other. It creates a new sense.

The young generation, cultural influence, political rights and gender freedom.

Isa Genzken was one of my main inspirations in my third-year collection. In it, I talked about censorship over sexuality, so it was more like a statement of my political expectations.

I love working during the night. Movies are also definitely a part of my inspiration, and music can help me to get into working mood. I’m fluid with it though, it depends on my mood and what I do.

I can hardly name them as categories of clothing because I look at fashion as an art piece working with the human body. I work with multiple materials and references to create harmony with the contrasts. And it also has to be dreamy and emotional.

I grew up near Shanghai. Back in the early ‘90s, China was very different, and I do think that I was influenced by this male-dominated society. I was trying to reach equality and freedom of genders.

Yes, absolutely! More people started to get interested in my work after that. Of course, it brings good things, but also that pressure; expectations get higher both from myself and from others, but I try to focus on the work and not overthink of my surrounding.

I have set up my own brand, and I think that learning from the growth of my brand and my experience could be more efficient than working in a fashion house. There is a lot to learn and adapt to, but step by step, it would lead to a good path. My most immediate plan is the next collection.