Arts Thread

Shiqi Xu
Fashion Design BFA

Parsons School of Design

Graduates: 2023

Specialisms: Apparel / Formal/Couture / Womenswear

My location: New York, United States

shiqi-xu1 ArtsThread Profile
Parsons School of Design

Shiqi Xu

shiqi-xu1 ArtsThread Profile

First Name: Shiqi

Last Name: Xu

University / College: Parsons School of Design

Course / Program: Fashion Design BFA

Graduates: 2023

Specialisms: Apparel / Formal/Couture / Womenswear

My Location: New York, United States

About

SHIQI XU is a luxury womenswear brand founded by Parsons Fashion Graduate Shiqi Xu in 2023. The Brand is now based in New York City.​ ​ In Chinese, "诗" (Shi) embodies poetic meaning, and "绮" (Qi) represents the beautiful woven silk. The English pronunciation of SHIQIis "shekey," stands for "she is the key." serving as the consistent design philosophythroughout the brand. ​ ​ The vision of SHIQI XU lies in the inheritance of Eastern culture, subtle storytelling, Western haute couture craftsmanship, the use of exquisite high-end fabrics, and a touch of sophisticated elegance.

The blossom in the mirror/ SS24 couture collection

I love looking in the mirror. As I gaze into any reflective surface, my eyes are drawn to my own reflection. It's a shared fascination in our modern society, where selfie provides a similar form of a mirror. My thesis delves into this unconscious behavior and transforms it in a poetic way. French psychoanalyst, Lucan's mirror theory, posits that the reflection in the mirror represents our "ideal-i," the embodiment of our deepest desires. Thus, myself and those like me keep looking in the mirror, striving to embody this ideal image, posing and scrutinizing ourselves to approximate its likeness. Though we possess a robust sense of self, we lack a sense of control and certainty. In Greek mythology, the tale of a man who fell in love with his own reflection in the water and drowned, transforming into a narcissus fower by the river, gave rise to the word narcissism. Despite its derogatory connotations, I found myself captivated by the romanticism of self-love and acceptance.The metaphor of " turning into flowers" serves as the main design methodology for both textile and silhouett development. Each fime we observe ourselves in the mirror, our reflection is both similar and distinct, influenced by the angle, distance, and, most importantly, our physical and emotional state at that moment. Imperfections and perfections harmonize to create a unified whole. Through this collection, I aim to empower individuals like myself to embrace and appreciate every facet of our fragmented images, cultivating a robust sense of self-love.