EMERGING DESIGNER
BING
Words by Katie Farley
Instilling an early and acute understanding of fashion and the importance of structure, Chinese born Bing, who today resides and hones her craft in New York City, not only knows how to make clothes but identifies the significance of making clothes beautiful while functional. Emerging as an exciting name throughout the industry, Bing's sartorial focus in women's avant-garde apparel has ushered forth a soft, albeit empowering aesthetic that inspires confidence. The designer's collection evokes a sense of vulnerability and potency in equal measures, achieved while honoring her parent's underlying strengths and dexterities.
"I started my journey in fashion as a pattern maker," explains Bing, who graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York this year. "As a pattern maker, I learned to build a photographic memory and a visual way of picturing the world." One day she was sewing a jacket, attempting to alter the pockets and collar's shape and color, but was not getting the result she had envisioned. That was the moment when Bing realized how essential composition was, and the importance of designing beautiful garments which incorporate serving a purpose.
Bing designs for a specific group of people. "I call them LADIES, it doesn't mean from a gender perspective, I believe they are the kind of people who believe in soft power. My job is to let them know they are special, I met so many ladies in my life, they are vulnerable but powerful, they work hard, believe in themselves, and are very calm. I want to portrait and dress up this kind of people."
Brand BING encompasses unique qualities, "we are inspired by LADIES, work with ladies, design for ladies, and donate to ladies." Part of the brand's profits sees a donation to WomanKind, an organization for empowering women, a charity that the designer is passionate to be associated with to show her respect to her muses, customers, and her creative team.
"I hope I can bring the spirit of calmness to the world of fashion," explains Bing. "The world is in crisis, people are scared, anxious, and vulnerable. I think it is really important for us to go back to the exercise of learning how to be calm and believe in ourselves, no matter what kind of jobs we are doing, which positions we are. As a brand, we celebrate the power of softness, the power of calmness, and we hope our belief can make people feel better."
Bing grew up surrounded by sculptures in her family home, courtesy of her wood-sculptor father. These intricate figurines have had an enormous influence on Bing's fashion aesthetic. "I was interested in the idea of interaction and interchangeability between 2D and 3D formats. As a fashion designer, I see my designs in the format of 3D sculpture, as wearing of the 2D clothing pieces serves as the most natural 2D-to-3D transformation process." Similarly, her mother inspires her collection through her calming and soft mannerisms, reflected in Bing's selection of fabrics and textures.
"To honor my mother, and the power of softness that she stood for, I selected jersey and horsehair canvas as the main textiles used in this collection. The softness and closeness to wearers that jersey creates are supported by horsehair canvas which brings structure, support, and function to the tailoring of the clothes, resonating with the theme of this collection."
Bing's latest collection emits an edgy editorial essence by creating beautiful billowing silhouettes through skillful and smart draping techniques. These design characteristics have unsurprisingly won her a young artist acknowledgment by CFDA and Harper Bazaar. The future for Bing knows no limits.
