Macaroni Club: A Fashionable Blend of Past and Present

Wonjoon Cha's Award-Winning Womenswear Collection Inspired by 18th Century Macaroni's and Modern Logo Mania

The Macaroni Club collection is named after the Macaroni's of mid-18th century London, men who were known for exceeding the ordinary bounds of fashion. These individuals, akin to today's logo-addicted consumers, were considered stylish and trendsetting. The collection aims to highlight the influence of logos in both the past and the present, creating the Macaroni Club as a brand in itself.

The unique properties of this collection lie in its focus on creating a brand, "MACARONI CLUB". The logos and print designs are key elements in this collection, complemented by exaggerated garment details and volumes. The collection is a commentary on current consumerism in the fashion market and symbolizes the strong desire for attention from others. The designs are versatile, intended to be used in various items such as accessories and interior designs.

The realization of this collection involved a blend of traditional and digital techniques. Fabric prints were hand-sketched and inked, with colors added using Photoshop. The print designs were then modified using Photoshop after the sketch processes were completed. Fabrics were personally chosen based on the inspiration, and the finished print designs were produced in London. The garments were draped and gathered by hand, using a mix of 2D and 3D draping processes.

The collection comprises eight looks of womenswear. It serves as a critique of the culture of buying clothes as a tool to show wealth and social status, rather than as a means to express personal identity. The project started in December 2017 in France and was completed in May 2018 in South Korea.

The design research for the collection began with an exploration of the designer's own culture. South Korea, known for its high-pressure education system, served as a starting point. The high expectations placed on education are linked to social status, a concept that is reflected in the collection. The garment details are based on Macaroni costumes combined with current fashion trends.

The Macaroni Club collection faced challenges in fabric production due to the heavy focus on gathering details. The lengthy printing process also posed time management challenges between fabric design and garment production. Despite these challenges, the collection was awarded the Silver A' Fashion, Apparel and Garment Design Award in 2019, a testament to its creativity, professional excellence, and innovation.