C JEAN設計總監
C JEAN Design Director
簡君嫄 Chun-Yuan Jean
YEARBOOK 2023
Chun-Yuan Jean－From Design Philosophy to Practice: C JEAN Chun-Yuan Jean’s Design Process and Innovation
I
actively explored the fields of fine art and fashion design, learned
photography, color science, and other professional knowledge, and in-depth
study of design theory and thinking. During my postgraduate study in London, I
held internships with designer brands; after graduation, I also accumulated many
years of working
experience with well-known clothing brands. These experiences gave me a deeper
understanding of the impact that design has on product value, and on a
product’s competitive edge. It also prompted me to found C JEAN in 2019. I hope
to use my design skills to bring value and beauty to people, and to express my
creativity and ideas.
One of my goals as a fashion designer is to create meaningful, aesthetically-pleasing designs. At the same time, though, commercial factors must be considered, such as cost, production feasibility, market demand, and brand image. We need to understand the brand’s target market and values, and find a balance between business competition and artistic creation.
For AW19, I created my “Break” collection. This was inspired by the impact of
climate change on Antarctic glaciers, specifically the breaking and shrinking
of the glaciers’ ice shelves. We worked with textile mills to develop
sustainable and environmentally friendly recycled wool to reduce textile waste
and carbon emissions. We used broché and burnout techniques to incorporate the
visual effects of melting glaciers onto the fabric and clothing design; we created
outfit and dress collection demarcated by the different stages of a disappearing
glacier.
Inspired
by melting glaciers, C JEAN Chun-Yuan Jean collaborated with textile mills to develop
recycled wool, and integrated the visual effect
of a melting glacier onto fabric and clothing design, through broché and burnout techniques.
The 12th edition of the Florence Biennale in Italy attracted close to a thousand artists/designers from 78 countries to participate. Among such fierce competition, “Break” was lucky to win the bronze medal in the Textile and Fiber Art category. This is the first time Taiwan has received this honor. My work was validated by the judges, and this represented international recognition of C JEAN’s creative ability and professional standards. I am very grateful to my photographer friend Che-I Liao who understood the design concept and fabric development after shooting the first collection for C JEAN, and who encouraged me to participate in the competition.
The Florence Biennale announcing C JEAN, bronze medal winner in the Textile and Fiber Art category.
C JEAN 2021 autumn and winter “Lost Birds”, inspired by endangered birds.
The design concept for my SS23 “Form” collection comes from order and organization systems in nature, such as honeycombs, mushroom gills, nautiluses, and spider webs. These elements are often used in architectural designs, such as gill-like corrugated panels on buildings or honeycomb structures. Through the integration of sustainable biomimicry and geometric design in architecture, we created unique formalwear—gill-like wavy textures on cloth flowers, honeycomb textures, jacquard lines interlaced with spider webs, and more—which were not only beautiful but also practical and comfortable. These clothes demonstrate the combination of nature and human society, constructing a new harmony of beauty.
In my “Form” collection for SS23, C JEAN collaborated with Joint Group Construction to break the tradition of holding Taipei Fashion Week only in Taipei. We instead moved our show to Joint Group’s Reception Center in Taichung Port. Combining the indoor hall with the outdoor gardens, we had a live band and an outdoor buffet to create international post-show ambiance. This collaboration not only brought together many possibilities, but also, hopefully, encouraged Taiwanese enterprises to support and attach importance to fashion.
SS23 Taipei Fashion Week, C JEAN took our fashion show to Taichung, responding to the
Ministry of Culture’s plan to
“flourish everywhere”.
Show director Yen Zhou (www.zyenprod.com) designed the
lighting and stage of the C JEAN SS23 fashion show as a movie set, and
choreographed the show like a movie
SS23:
Inspired by the gills of shiitake mushrooms, C JEAN’s formal
suits keep corporate wear in
mind.
SS23: C JEAN brings Taipei Fashion Week to Taichung
Port, creating a beautiful landscape.
In
addition to the construction industry, we also collaborated with the automotive
industry. Through multiple Audi Taiwan invitations, we held fashion shows that
integrated their new models, including the Audi A3 Sportback, flagship models
A8L, S8, TT RS Coupé Recharge Hatchback, e-tron GT, and other series. Our goal
was to provide customers with a comprehensive brand experience. By
incorporating dance performances by the independence dancer and the members of Japan’s group World
Order in the A8L fashion show, and unique fashion experience and interactive
displays, we brought customers a deeper understanding of our brands and
products. In addition, we also designed clothing to align with the Audi e-tron
GT. Our design lines, contours, and fabric selections further strengthened Audi’s
design concept and style. The combination of automobile and fashion elements
not only gives the products more personality and creativity, but also enhances their
value and attractiveness, thereby generating more connections with customers.
Audi A3 launch combined with C JEAN fashion show: C JEAN was introduced by then-Audi president Matthias Schepers.
Well-known Japanese dance
group World Order at Audi × C
JEAN.Rahil Ansari, current president of Audi, invited C JEAN’s Chun-Yuan Jean for ongoing dialogue to
explore how to realize sustainable aesthetics at the design level.
Beyond
collaborating with other businesses, we have also collaborated with Spring Pool
Glass, Shiye
and Tennii Studio to turn recycled glass into a clothing accessories
collection. In addition, we designed a collection of night-blooming cereus-inspired
clothes using all-natural dyes to show the eternity of life. These works have
been exhibited at art fairs and London Fashion Week. We were also invited to
share our creative process on panels. As the opening show during the recent AW23
Taipei Fashion Week, C JEAN collaborated with important national craftsmanship
preservationist and centenarian artistic heavyweight Qingshuang Wang, to transform his
creative spirit into clothing.
SS22 C JEAN’s
SS22 “Eternity”
collaboration with Spring Pool Glass and Shiye, developing an accessory
collection from recycled glass
C JEAN’s SS22 “Moment” collection
collaborated with Tennii
Studio, using plant-extracted whole plant dyed fabrics to create the appearance
of night-blooming cereus buds.
Wang Ching-shuang, a master lacquer artist who has lived through
a century of changes, embodies 85+ years of indominable creative spirit.
Creative process for C JEAN’s AW23 “Faith” collection.
C JEAN’s AW23 interpretation of Blue Waves Gold Light, a
2005 work by national craft preservationist and master lacquer artist Wang Ching-shuang.
Wang Chun-wei, Wang Ching-shuang’s grandson, applied painted lacquer onto the
clutch bag.
AW23: C JEAN collaborated with Wang Ching-shuang, a centenarian
master lacquer artist. C JEAN interpreted the concepts of lamination and maki-e
through embroidery, beading, and other handicrafts.
AW23: C JEAN’s
interpretation of Wang Ching-shuang’s Rebirth 1999.
AW23: C JEAN’s interpretation of Qingshuang Wang’s
Beauty Under the Moon 2008.
Successful cross-industry collaborations highlight how business and art can complement each other; such collaborations can be valuable to both parties. The business sector can use artistic creativity to enhance brand value, brand images, and consumer loyalty; while artwork can reach a wider range of consumers through commercial platforms, gain support, and expand possibilities for creativity. These collaborations bring commercial success and increase opportunities for artists.
For me, clothing is a medium for
creativity, as well as a means of expression and communication. The process of
realizing the concepts in my mind is amazingly interesting. Through design, we
can convey culture, beliefs, and values; and design can become a platform for
social issues, like raising awareness on environmental protection, human
rights, and equality, and can try to exert an influence there. Clothing is a
fusion of culture, history, technology, and personal style, presenting endless
possibilities.
The fashion industry brings aesthetic trends to society, and creators need to constantly advance their skills to meet market demand. This is why I believe creation is an eternal process. Stay curious. Every designer should constantly learn, explore, and try new ideas and methods.