Click the photo for more looks from Brandon Sun.
The Gutai art movement in 1950’s Japan, the wabi-sabi aesthetic, interior designer Axel Vervoordt, and a clash of eastern and western details all contributed to an intricate web of inspiration for designer Brandon Sun. For his fall/winter 2013 collection, titled “Gutai,” Sun paid very close attention to movement and layers, starting with loose silk and satin dresses that swept the floor that built up to bulky leather jackets with fur details. Add in a palette of deep blues, greens and grays–also inspired by Vervoordt’s photographs of mountain sunrises–and you have an edgy but serene style; a subtle force. “I’ve always been on a journey to understand my love for the aesthetic I’m trying to find,” says Sun. “Each season I find something new that unravels more of that understanding. [This season] influenced my interpretation of fabrics and movement and color.”
After graduating from Parsons the New School for Design, Sun spent time at both J.Mendel and Oscar de la Renta as a designer specializing in the fur divisions which, as a result, showed vast improvement. Shortly after, he launched his own luxury fur accessories and ready-to-wear collection. Therefore, it stands to reason that of the more remarkable features of Sun’s third collection for fashion week was fur. Many of the attendees even wore it to the presentation in honor of the designer. In his collection, Sun shaved down mink to resemble velvet, cutting the material into square patches (a feature reflecting his spring/summer 2013 collection) and sewing them onto the jacket sleeves. The models, with messy low buns and bangs that framed their faces, each took turns walking around the platform to the crackling beat of moody music, demonstrating the movement of the outfit.
On the subject of his rapid success after college, Sun shares advice for students, especially in New York City, who are just starting out. “Always remember who helped you. Be honest, be nice.” Having already begun next season’s collection, Brandon Sun’s potential to continue his exponential rise in the fashion world is huge.
Sarah Radin is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].
