When asked about the inspiration behind the name of her label
Oriens, Shirley Tang described it as “a revisiting to the Latin roots of 'Orientalism', shedding its complex cross-cultural negotiations and imposed fantasies to return to a place of purity.” Continuing to draw from this root, she reflected on its alternative interpretation as the “visual, action-based imagery of the sun rising from the horizon,” and how “It depicts a movement forward and upwards, extending past the horizon line in both directions between night and day, past and present, constantly moving into the future in rebirth.” The complex notions layered within her designs allows her to dismantle predetermined ideals and reconstruct them using a refreshing perspective. This is artfully translated through her work which makes for playful and unique pieces which are both innovative and daring.