RCA Fashion 2013 collection
by Xiao Li

Plump pastel silicone garments moulded from knitwear feature in this collection by Royal College of Art graduate Xiao Li.

The marshmallow-coloured range features silhouettes exaggerated with puffed-up skirts and sleeves that billow from midway down the upper arm.

“Traditional knitwear is more soft and shapeless,” Li told Dezeen. “I wanted to find out a new way to present knitwear and was influenced by Modern architecture and 60s Balenciaga.”

The voluminous pieces are made from spacer fabric, which combines two layers of textiles connected by filaments and holds its shape while still appearing lightweight.

Li used her own knitting samples to create moulds to produced patterned silicone material used entirely for a jacket and skirt, and as hems or accessories for genuine knitted items. “I wanted to make sure my collection is innovative but still wearable,” she said.

She swapped the fluorescent colours of her earlier work for more muted shades, affiliating lilac, peach, mint green and pale yellow.

“All the materials came in white and I dyed them by myself to match the colour,” said Li.

Her collection was shown at the Royal College of Art fashion show last week, where Maiko Takeda presented headdresses covered in hundreds of colourful bristles.

At the Westminster graduate fashion show Philli Wood revealed giant cable knit patterns printed onto oversized outerwear.

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