Jay Lee

Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea and came to the UK to study fashion design. After successfully completing a BA in Menswear at the London College of Fashion in 2019, Lee is currently studying for a Master's degree at the Royal College of Art and plans to graduate in September 2023. Lee's current goal after her master’s degree is to officially launch her own brand, ‘YILEE,’ which is a combination of two ways of romanising her surname.

In my futuristic point of view, I address the tension between traditional craft skills and avant-garde elements equally within the same piece, aiming to achieve a combination of timeless beauty and futuristic aesthetics. Innovative pattern cuttings, experiments, iterations, solid garment construction using quality materials, and traditional craftsmanship inform my sartorial vision. Witnessing a future where fluidity and volatility are accelerating, I have contemplated about how unalterable and sustainable values can be defined not only as a designer, but more as a creator.

What is my future fantasy that can be demonstrated in fashion? To answer this, I have combined future-oriented aesthetics centred around speed and dynamics found in nature and historical contexts and traditional craftsmanship. This fusion manifests through innovative pattern cutting, construction, techniques and disruptive silhouettes with high-quality materials. I believe that artisanal techniques and couture can bring forth their own unique aesthetics and impressions, not being consumed rapidly by observers or wearers but rather giving a timeless beauty that can be present eternally.