When fashion flirts with technology it doesn't always score, but when Hewlett-Packard (HP) Taiwan combined its latest printing technology with 26-year-old, self-taught designer Jasper Huang (
Under a dark sky with a forecast of rain, a small crowd of stylists and reporters gathered Monday on the patio at Herbs restaurant to catch a preview of Huang's spring/summer collection. Jasper + HP = everything is possible II was the follow-up to the unveiling of the HP Designjet printer held in January.
The winter show highlighted the printer's ability to reproduce vivid patterns and colors on a wide range of textiles, which can be used to manufacture clothing. The event also debuted Huang's series of elaborate costumes for men and women and also previewed a more wearable line of clothing that is soon to be available at Huang's boutique in Taipei.
Luckily, as the lounge music began to play the clouds parted and the sun came out. It was perfect timing as two models in beach attire made their way down the runway. The spring/summer collection showcased a range of T-shirts, shorts, tank tops and swimwear; each piece saturated in bright, bold colors.
Huang uses playful shades to brighten up his traditional Taiwanese floral patterns, which is fitting for a line of beachwear. The vibrant pinks and purples are a daring move away from the dark or pale tones often used by Huang. The tight-fitting shorts and swimming trunks cannot be worn by every man, so to accommodate the less sculpted physique he has designed a range of less-restrictive shorts and tops.
When a middle-aged man was asked if he would wear any of the items modeled during the show he joked, "I'm too old. My wife would laugh at or kill me. But I might be able to get away with a tie," he said referring to a selection of silk satin ties using a similar color and pattern scheme to that of the clothing.
The over-the-top mix of colors and patterns is continued in the women's collection of short-shorts and figure-shaping tank tops. The fluorescent yellow and green colors are muted with subtle tones of blue and burnt orange. One of the most striking pieces was the one-piece, open-back bathing suit that resembled a bikini. Basic white T-shirts livened up with small printed images and a selection of twill fabric carrier bags in muted pastels with bird and floral designs representative of ink brush painting were also on display.
The entire show was a small preview of what will come next month; a selection Huang promises will include more airy pants, floaty dresses and tailored jackets using the HP Designjet printer.
The project originated last year with HP Taiwan Marketing Development Manager Garphy Chang (
Taiwan is a pioneer of the design-printing technique but its neighbors are eager to acquire the technology. "We have already leveraged it to Singapore and right now Japan, North Korea and Australia are all interested. It's only a matter of time before we start marketing globally. ... The opportunities are endless," Chang said.
For Huang, the process combines his talents for both graphic and fashion design. The entire course, from the original design on the computer, to the printing onto fabric and the assembling of clothing, is all done by Huang and takes approximately five hours to complete.
"He is talented, but most importantly he has the capability to use this technology. Jasper provides us with a outstanding example of what is possible when you combine a new invention with young talent," said HP Taiwan sales director Eric Lin (
After graduating in 2000 from a fine arts college in Tainan, Huang worked as a fashion graphic designer when his interest in the industry was piqued. Overwhelmed by his instant success -- having won prestigious awards in Taiwan and abroad -- he traveled to the fashion Meccas of Tokyo, New York, Milan and Paris before launching his career. In less than four years the young artist has found a comfortable niche in the market with his own line of clothing and boutique. With a background in oil painting and metalcraft, Huang's talent has spilt into different areas of design. His store is a display area for his clothing, accessories, jewelry and home furnishing designs.
His street-driven vision has attracted the eye of style-savvy youths and stars. One of his first assignments was to design the stage costumes for Mando-pop king Jay Chou (
Whether it's a piece from his casual line or a flamboyant costume, Huang pushes the boundaries of conventional Taiwanese fashion to design in his own image. His clothes are an example of how young designers emphasize chic yet maintain an urban sensibility. It's a refreshing alternative to the older, more mature styles presented by many top Taiwanese designers.
"I'm not trying to be ultra cool. I just want to have my own modern perspective in my designs. I want to make clothing that young people can afford to buy and want to wear," Huang said.
Jasper Huang's Clothing store is located at 32, Ln 31, Minsu West Rd, Taipei (
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