The Fashion Designer: Shie Lyu

Photo by Vogue

In recent years, the fashion industry has come under increased scrutiny for its significant environmental and social impact. As the world becomes more conscious of the need for sustainability, fashion designers play a pivotal role in transforming the industry towards a more responsible and eco-friendly direction. By integrating sustainable practices into their design processes, fashion designers have the power to make a substantial impact on the environment and society. From innovative materials sourcing and conscious design principles to embracing circularity and promoting ethical labour practices, the choices made by fashion designers can drive positive change and set a new standard for the fashion world at large.

One of the sustainable fashion designers stars in Shie Lyu! Born in China and educated in various countries such as Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York, pursued fashion design after obtaining a BA in Finance. After graduating from Parsons MA Fashion, she has garnered recognition through prestigious accolades, including being a finalist for Yu Prize 2021, ITS International Talent Support 2019, Big Design Award 2019, and a semi-finalist for HM Design Award 2019. Notably, she won the FashionScout Ones-to-Watch in 2019AW and was selected as a CFDA+ graduate in 2018. Her work has been showcased at renowned venues such as MoMA PS1 (New York), 247 Showroom (Paris), and Freemasons' Hall (London).

Shie Lyu's creative focus lies in reviving the artistry and craftsmanship of fashion. Each of her collections features fully handcrafted pieces sustainably produced by recycling leftover, dead-stock, or flawed materials. Utilizing exquisite couture techniques like 3D embroidery, weaving, knotting, and crochet, she transforms these discarded materials into sculptural garments with sophisticated styles.

In her world, futuristic craftsmanship blends glamour, chaos, and futuristic femininity, while maintaining elegant wearability. Interestingly, Shie prefers to label herself as an engineer or technophile rather than a traditional fashion designer, emphasizing her dedication to innovative approaches in the fashion industry.

Watch this video by Vogue where the designers Stella McCartney and Shie Lyu interpret each other’s work. You can also learn more about Shie's work process; reusing materials she already has based on a zero-waste design.