Referencing artworks, literature and observations of real life, the designer has embedded the intimate, restrict and subtle collection in an imaginary scenario – “a man got laced up in corsetry, lying down upon a couch in his boudoir, reading A Room of One’s Own drowsily.” This way, the collection aims to push men to admit and feel the oppression and bondage that women have historically experienced, in an attempt to praise the power of femininity. Xu also challenges the concepts of breeching and boudoir by forcing the man to experience and confront his feminine side and explore his identity. In a colour palette of scarlet red, lavender and daffodil yellow, the draped corsetry creates an organic silhouette that imitates women’s soft and ‘sagged’ body characteristics.
“I’m not trying to speak out against any discrimination or prejudice. That’s not what I’m talking about in my work, although I have my own feelings about it.”
The whole concept behind the collection contributes to Keren’s motto as a designer. Inspired by film director Ogigami Naoko, he aims to appreciate people of all kinds as well as their individual peculiarities. “I’m not trying to speak out against any discrimination or prejudice. That’s not what I’m talking about in my work, although I have my own feelings about it. I want to encourage people and myself to understand that all the individuals in the world can be diverse and different, and have their own unique significance to exist,” he says, quoting Naoko.