Daydream Nation in Dazed Digital
another great report by Sonia Zhuravlyova on Dazed Digital.
Daydream Nation is a fashion/theatre project by brother and sister Kay and Jing Wong, both Central St Martins graduates. Their aim is to design garments that tell stories. "Daydream Nation is the name of a Sonic Youth album," says Jing, "but it only struck me one day when I read about a theatre director called Phelim McDermott who believed that society has a 'Racism against Daydreamers'. Being born in the rigid Hong Kong education system that stifles creativity, we found it our mission to cultivate a culture of imagination."
Their AW 08 collection, "Good Night Deer", tells the Kafka-esque story of a deer hunter who wakes one day and finds himself transformed into the deer he killed. Accompanied by the caterwauling band Naked with Horses, who are dressed up in deer head-gear, the models slowly act out the scenes of the tale.
Jing's specialty is theatre and Kay is the authority on fashion. Although billed as a fashion-meet-theatre experience, this performance is of course a vehicle to showcase the designers' pieces. "The idea came from a comic I saw on the internet," says Jing. "A couple are going to bed, the husband turns to his wife and says 'good night honey' - and she's really a pot of honey, and she turns around and says 'good night dear' - and he's really a deer. This is where the name for the collection comes from. The name reflects that it's an autumnal collection, the colours are dark."
The result is more creative freedom that either a conventional theatrical experience or a run-of-the-mill fashion show could allow. By creating a catwalk narrative, the garments are allowed to come alive. Some of them are unbelievable creations - like the two-man trouser suit which forms the deer - and the majority of garments get the space and time that they wouldn't on a conventional catwalk. It's clear from the performances that you'd be able to move around freely in Jing and Kay's fey creations.
The clothes themselves are simply-cut shift dresses with slashed necks and similar tops, in foresty hues - all browns and greens and a lot of black. I particularly like the turquoise striped top, apparently symbolizing the lake where the hunter goes to wash the blood from his hands after he kills the deer.
"Storytelling is very important to me and these clothes are designed for playful people," says Jing. "Me and Kay do the sketchbook together, but she looks after the practical side of actually making the clothes". Kay confirms: "Jing is the creative force behind everything. I'm much more practical."
The label is based in Hong Kong, but the pair will be back with their SS 09 collection next year. Meanwhile, their clothes can be found in the Old Curiosity Shop in Holborn.
