“The bright colors, whimsical cartoons, and bold shapes of Asian pop culture can be seen throughout my thesis collection. I was inspired by Asian youth who boldly accessorize their fashions. I was also influenced by American movies. Growing up in Virginia, I learned English from watching American movies, and I absorbed their images and stories at a very young age.”
Tianyi Xie was born in northern China and raised in Virginia and knew she wanted to be a fashion designer from the time she was 6 years old. As a very active person (she was a dancer in high school and swam or ran almost every day), she always appreciated comfortable fashion, yet as a classically trained pianist who wore high heels almost every day, she also appreciated dressing up. These two mind-sets influenced her approach to design. During her studies at Parsons, Xie chose to focus on accessories. She designs for comfort and practicality, as well as beauty and luxury—the same way she lives her life.
"My thesis collection is full of playful details. I concoct new shapes for accessories while keeping their functionality. I believe that a striking exterior and a thoughtful interior makes the perfect accessory. The bright colors, whimsical cartoons, and bold shapes of Asian pop culture can be seen throughout my thesis collection. I was inspired by Asian youth who boldly accessorize their fashions. I was also influenced by American movies. Growing up in Virginia, I learned English from watching American movies, and I absorbed their images and stories at a very young age. Stories inspire me. I channel them through my collection to make them powerful and full of wit and cleverness.
"When you walk into any Chinese family's pantry, it's like a cartoon. There is such an explosion of color when you open that pantry door. My collection came from my kitchen back home. In my house, the kitchen is where all the love, energy, and creativity are located. I take that same energy and channel it through my collection. The colorful shapes are inspired by the personalities of my family members. They also come from the packaging of the ingredients we use in our cooking. This collection shows a modern Asia that is fun and sophisticated."
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