Yin Ya Shi

“My initial thought when I saw my colour – Resene Key Largo – was beautiful bright blue waters reflecting the sunlight in Key Largo, Florida.

But how does this connect with me? I wanted my Resene project to be personal to me, my local cultures, people and places and the colours of my world.

As I drove around the city that afternoon, something bright caught my eye. It was the reflections of the glass skyscrapers, reflecting the same bright blue as the waters of Key Largo. It then clicked to me, what is the glass made of? Of course, the sand on the beaches. It all ties in, we’re surrounded by things in nature that we don’t even notice in our day-to-day life.

Skyscrapers and the city have always been a huge part of my life – born and raised in Auckland with my family hometown in Hong Kong. The city is a place where different people with different cultures meet, creating a community.

My design is a rectangular shift dress with a repetitive triangular shape which mirrors the silhouette of skyscrapers and the shapes of the glass exterior.

The dress has adjustable straps and is created by individually bagged out triangles joined together with eyelets and jump rings representing people in the city coming together – assembling.”

Resene Whitecliffe Colour of Fashion clothing - 2022

Photography by Jonathan Kraettli

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