Catherine Bui explores the aesthetic of extremes in contemporary fashion. Her research aims to investigate extreme beauty and how ideal beauty can be created by physical manipulations that alter the body structure.
While extreme beauty has a power to captivate one’s creativity through shapes and forms, extreme nature has also been a universal theme that attracts numerous designers. Inspired by the sculptural work of nature of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam where the real and the surreal of the mysterious place interwoven. Literally, Ha Long means the Descending Dragon and from an old legend the limestone outcrops and islets in the seascape were once jewels and jades from the family of the dragon, which they spitted out to create a barrier against the invader, helped the King defend the land. The mysterious seascape that displays thousands of limestone outcrops and calm water contrasts with the surrealistic scenery inside the caves.
Catherine’s philosophy is to create her own interpretation of the extremes and transform what was perceived to be bizarre to a beautiful, feminine yet edgy collection, which incorporates the shapes and elements from Ha Long Bay whilst capturing the historical features like corset and chocker in a contemporary version.
This can be done by incorporating different textile techniques to manipulate fabrics and experiment with various fibre treatments. The contrasting use of different fabrications between sheer and opaque textures adds an interesting touch to the pieces. She uses beads in some of parts of the garments to enhance the aesthetic that translate the magical feel from her inspirations. She also develops a dyed colour palette to express the sophisticated and edgy style for the image of a feminine, strong and modern woman. Unique shapes and forms are created through draping on stand that allows exciting and innovative silhouettes to be explored.
In comparison with the work of other competitors, Catherine’s collection is uniquely distinctive as her chosen theme is a joint combination of contrasting elements that inspire her. Thus, this leads to a new approach in the design process that set her creations apart from others’.
