Zhenyu Yang

BFA Fashion Design Systems and Society

Title: Urban Cures

Updated: August 3rd

For my thesis project, I want to focus on building a bridge that connects fashion and certain medical issues. The initial goal is to develop a series of fashion products/accessories that can help customers deal with some daily problems, such as allergies, flu and air pollution. Before settling on the actual making of the products, I have a very clear direction on my work, which is “Everything about this project is serving a sole purpose to create a balance between functionality
and look.”
How to make my products visually appealing and functional while being easy to use are the challenges that I aim to overcome during the process of development. Ultimately, the project should become a puzzle piece that fills the blank space between fashion and medical wear in our current market. In the long term, I also want to find a way to normalize and destigmatize the usage of medical related accessories. In this way, my customers will not feel pressured or ashamed when
wearing medical products in public. Hopefully, this empowerment can come from both the product itself and the promotion of a positive image in popular media. Therefore, I also want to take a look into the fashion media and how they reshape public perception. For this project specifically, I am starting the conversation by releasing a collection of face masks that are well-designed, functional, customizable and innovative. For the days to come after this thesis year, I can hopefully build up a complete system that promotes a healthier, more confident fashion choice.

Graduated student from the BFA Fashion Design program at Parsons School of Design. Passionate designer who dedicates to innovate sustainable fashion products. Proficient in various forms of art and design, including photography, graphic design, illustration etc. Inspirational and creative in developing new designs to elevate and transcend user experience.