“My parents were antique dealers and when I was a little girl I was always surrounded by antiques and beautiful old objects that had a life and a history before, so I think that somehow started to unconsciously stay in my mind. So my [design] process is a very instinctive and the way I construct garments is very sculptural — I drape a lot directly on top of the mannequin and I experiment with fabric. It’s very instinctive and I let accidents happen a lot — that brings very surprising elements — and the drawing doesn’t play such an important part. The movement is very important, so I do a lot of fittings.

“The inspiration behind this collection in Singapore (shown during French Couture Week 2012, organised by Fide Fashion Weeks) is ‘Spring of Nüwa’. It is based on all-natural elements — the sky, the sea, the evolving and ever-changing nature and the organic and vegetal shapes — as well as vegetal architecture. I try to make my designs more coherent with the new generation and to make it into an idea of beauty that is mine. I don’t make it a statement to incorporate Asian inspiration but I guess there are some pieces (like the red dress) that have that very oriental feel, in terms of the graphic designs and the laser-cut lines. But it's not something that I do on purpose — it comes when it comes.

“To me, haute couture is a laboratory for creative experimentation. It is a context of freedom in which I can express myself with no limits towards the technical challenges, the materials used, the draping techniques and the sewing techniques that are inherited from the traditional French couture. I think Vionnet is the ancestor of modern fashion, she basically invented the bias cut, designing dresses that were like an envelope that just fell on top of the body and made it beautiful but at the same time comfortable — everything was so fluid, so feminine and so easy to wear. Being in Paris and being a student in Paris is a very inspiring experience because you're surrounded by beauty, by designs, by culture and a very, very rich heritage of know-how and craftsmanship, so the knowledge is very present and influential.”