new wave
We had the chance to speak to designer and 2018 Parsons MFA graduate Max Cui about his latest collection and all that lies ahead for a new wave of talent.
Interview by Deborah Ferguson
Where are you from?
I’m from China
Is Parson’s School of Design your first design college degree?
I got my BA degree at Beijing. Parsons is where I got my master degree.
What inspired your MFA collection?
It was one of my original comic strips, I just feel the story can be interesting to create a collection.
Can you share the fabric design inspiration?
All of my print was based on my illustrations, since I have my illustration I’m trying to make the print more three dimensional and less flat, so the final technique was fabric quilting, hand makes embroidery and fabric layering.
Are you an artist? and did that inspire your fabric prints ?
Yes, Drawing and fashion design are intrinsically linked in my work. Drawing allows me to record and express exactly what I am imagining or feeling at that moment. Otherworldly characters emerge in my mind and stories play out in scenes on paper. Playing with scale I develop custom prints bringing these creatures to life and often life-size.
Where do you see yourself in the near future?
I’m gonna keep doing my way of design, trying to combining my art with my design.
Credits
Photographer: Heidi Tappis
Creative director: Deborah Ferguson
Layout Art Director: Charlotte Lethhbridge
Model: Najiyah
Makeup: Harriet Hadfield
Hair: Darren Hau