The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2024 - Issue 36

bitedesignerprofile asymmetrical designs and dramatic sleeves, revisiting classic silhouettes with modern digital prints. The physical and digital worlds were com- bined in the Spring-Summer 2021 ‘Phygital’ collection inspired by the 1997 Oscar-nom- inated movie Contact . The designs featured futuristic elements in bold and vibrant colours, including retro-futuristic goggles and a balaclava-style headgear focusing on intergalactic looks and abstract prints inspired by the cosmos. A blend of puffy, pointy, ruffled and scalloped sleeves, min- idresses, trench coats, and cropped shirts added to the looks. Annakiki’s Fall-Winter 2021 ‘Source Code’ examined the concept of time travel and reliving multiple scenarios through other people’s lives. It was divided into four-chap- ter-like segments representing different eras and styles. The designs in a monochrome palette with futuristic silver and space blue as embellishments consisted of 3M ret- ro-reflective materials and innovative tex- tiles in winding braid weaving techniques, acid universe graphic prints and 3D shapes on the sleeves and volume-sense profiles. Another universal theme inspired by cos- mic science fiction with a fusion of tech- nology and futuristic design presented ‘Quasar’ for Spring-Summer 2022. The col- lection featured 3D stereoscopic tailoring silhouettes with sleeves designed with artis- tic, retro, and geometrical lines to create a sense of movement. It used light, flowing, and sparkling fabrics like metallic light sat- in, luminescent fabrics and optical fibres. The skirts and suits contrasted between light and dark colours. Fall-Winter 2022 ‘Post-Human Code’ was created after Yang watched the cyberpunk action film Alita: Battle Angel, about a fe- male cyborg. It explored a cybernetic future where imagination and matter coexist. Su- per-long silhouettes, exaggerated shapes, sharp structures, 3D sculpted clothing in mixed metal materials, daring textures, and imaginative forms walked the catwalk. A cyborg installation created by Los Ange- les-based artist Behnaz Farahi watched the runway and audience throughout the show. British director Nic Stacey’s documentary The Secret Life of Chaos incorporated the Spring-Summer 2023 ‘Dimension Break- er’ collection. Inspired by fractal art and the concept of chaos theory, the collection explored the intricate patterns and struc- tures found in nature. It featured bold, ab- stract prints and innovative silhouettes with asymmetrical designs, dramatic sleeves, and voluminous shapes in metallic fabrics and Swarovski crystals for added sparkle and visual interest. The concept of a post-apocalyptic world and the resilience of humanity in the face of chaos and destruction was demonstrated in Annakiki’s Fall-Winter 2023 ‘Post-Apoca- lyptic Anthropocene’ collection. It featured futuristic armour-like designs with puffy, draped, and extra-pointed constructions. It focused on giant shoulders and voluminous shapes in mixed metal materials, cracked coatings and hand-painted prints to reflect the anti-utopian environment. Yang appeared to revisit her debut theme at Milan Fashion Week with ‘Alien Body’ for Spring-Summer 2024 but from a dif- ferent angle, examining the concept of al- ien shapes, textures, and bodies. The black, white, and metallic silver designs featured asymmetrical shapes, exaggerated shoul- ders, and three-dimensional spikes, trans- forming the silhouettes into visually strik- ing forms. Cutouts and optical illusions reminiscent of Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely’s paintings added to the fu- turistic aesthetic. With AI becoming more prominent in soci- ety, Annakiki presented its ‘The Era of Arti- ficial Intelligence’ collection for Fall-Winter 2024, exploring the intersection of technol- ogy and creativity. The designer blended natural photography with AI technology to create a virtual runway experience show- casing retro-futuristic styles with bold and innovative silhouettes. The designs reflect- ed the struggle against the excessive inva- sion of AI while safeguarding human crea- tivity and imagination. Each season, Anna Yang blends tradition with rebellion and technology with artistry to significantly impact the fashion world. Her innovative approach and unique vi- sion continue to inspire and captivate fash- ion enthusiasts. The designer says, “I often create with the imagination of the future, explore the mysteries of the future and the universe, mix and collide the past, present and future sensitively and emotionally, find the balance between the new and old, and creative something completely new.” https://annakiki.com/en-gb