Yen-Ting Cho's "2022 Phantasm": A Unique Fusion of Art and Technology

Wool Scarf Collection Inspired by the Pandemic, Celebrating Uniqueness and Playfulness

Yen-Ting Cho's design team found inspiration for the "2022 Phantasm" collection amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Stranded between studios in two countries during lockdowns, the team looked inward for inspiration, longing for an escape to a utopian paradise. The result was a series of fantastical, ethereal, and playful patterns, representing an imagined journey and incorporating radically new pattern structures and colour combinations.

The uniqueness of the "2022 Phantasm" collection lies in its creation process. The patterns are created with the studio's digital software, mov.i.see, which uses body movement to reconstruct digital data and reveal organic details not achievable solely by programming. This technology enables the design team to create asymmetrical, non-repeat patterns, which are very different from those made using traditional methods like mirroring or repetition. The patterns, digitally-printed onto natural fabric, are finished by hand, allowing the team to reproduce the fine detail of the designs.

The design team uses a bespoke interactive software, mov.i.see, to create digital patterns. For this collection, the team used layered design for the first time to bridge the gap between the figurative and the abstract, representing the complexity of the COVID-19 virus. Digital printing techniques reproduce the fine detail of the original designs while retaining the special colour-pattern combinations. Pure fine-combed wool holds the ink and reveals the detail of the pattern.

Each scarf in the collection is made of pure wool fibre, measuring 100cm wide x 200cm long, and weighing 0.4 kg. The pattern is digitally-printed with ink free of heavy metals. The scarves are gender-neutral fashion accessories, with asymmetrical and unique colour combinations. They can be worn in different ways to reflect individual expression, fitting changing fashion needs and occasions. The patterns are printed through the wool, so each pattern is double-sided. The wool is specially treated so that it is very comfortable and non-abrasive to the touch.

The "2022 Phantasm" collection was inspired by the peculiar circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The design team started designing the patterns in September 2020 and completed the project in February 2022 when the patterns were launched in New York City. The collection was awarded Silver in A' Fashion and Travel Accessories Design Award in 2022, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation.

The creation of the "2022 Phantasm" collection was not without challenges. The team had to create patterns inspired by the difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic that were colourful, optimistic, and playful. They researched thematic concepts and colour-ways, and experimented with mov.i.see to create the new patterns. The designers used layered design for the first time to integrate distinctive abstract patterns with figurative symbols. The patterns were modified while they were being created, rather than allowing the software to wholly dictate the design, revealing the authorship of the designer.

The "2022 Phantasm" collection is a testament to the creativity and resilience of Yen-Ting Cho's design team in the face of a global crisis. It showcases the power of technology in creating unique, dynamic patterns that can be applied to playful, aesthetically-pleasing, and desirable products. The collection is a celebration of individual expression, uniqueness, and the fusion of art and technology.