What is involved in the process of air-weaving?
“The air-weave technique is a way to give body and character. We have made a specific board for working with 2-D and 3-D materials – it’s made by hand and involves pins sitting vertically, which allows us to weave in a 3-D manner. This method is sustainable, as we use strips of laser-cut fabric – which means there is zero waste – and then we pin the strips of fabric to the board and hand-stitch each intersection to create moving accessories and garments.
Who do you have in mind when you design?
“Our customer is somebody who loves art and appreciates nature – Susan Fang pieces always reference the natural world.”
What would you recommend wearing with a Susan Fang bag?
“With your everyday wardrobe. From events to the workplace, our Bubble bags are incredibly versatile for different occasions.”
What’s next for the brand?
“We are planning to launch a loungewear and childrenswear range, as well as develop our accessories line with leather goods. In October, we’re visiting the Yi [community] in Xichang, Liangshan, where we will continue working alongside the Bloom charity, who work with disadvantaged families. We’ll be teaching the community how to create bags using offcut fabrics from previous seasons, with 100% of the proceeds being used to support their livelihoods. We hope to train them in the Susan Fang beading technique to create jobs and fair wages within their community. At Susan Fang, the focus is on craft.
What does the future of fashion week look like to you?
“The future of fashion week, I hope, will be very free and open. The main fashion seasons may still remain, but releasing collections should vary in timeline, depending on the brand’s story and should take on different forms. People are now open to more diverse ways of releasing a collection and challenging the idea of what a fashion show is. I see fashion week becoming more about how brands deliver their message.”