Yahoo Lifestyle Wenjüe Lu Blends Art, Fashion and Philosophy
Slow fashion, the repair economy and the philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel are all entwined in Wenjüe Lu’s limited-run exhibition and pop-up “Portraits of Aufhenbung.”
Studio Wenjüe Lu’s founders Michael Fang and Wenjue Lu don’t take fashion lightly and they give great consideration to their natural fiber creations. The artistic pair unveiled their studio in 2020 to restore a sense of slowness to this fast-paced world. They are averse to mechanically produced commodities and favor a multidisciplinary hands-on approach to tell a story, make a statement and show some heart and craftsmanship. Both creatives were born in China and studied in the U.S. Lu earned her BFA in fashion design at The New School’s Parson School of Design, and Fang picked up a BA in media and culture at New York University.
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They will be previewing their latest collection on Thursday at the Komune Space at 92 Orchard Street in downtown New York City. The show’s name is a reference to the German philosopher Hegel’s central concept of “Aufhebung,” which depending on its context could mean “to lift up” or “to abolish.” The creative duo’s latest designs touch upon transformation, identity and the interplay between the body, garment and sculpture. Wenjüe Lu only produce one collection each year, and they name the collection for the previous year, seemingly giving new meaning to “time stands still.” Their work can be found in Dover Street Market and Net-a-porter.
The clothing retails between $200 and $1,200 and, as with all Wenjüe Lu designs, they have the benefit of what the company calls a “Lifelong Mending Initiative.” Through that program, shoppers always have the option to send back any garments that may get damaged, stained, or are otherwise stagnant in the owner’s closet over the years. The studio then mends and transforms those pieces that are sent back so that the garment’s owner can continue to wear them for what it hopes will be the duration of the owner’s life and possibly beyond that through another user that it has been passed on to.
Sand-colored pants, a relaxed buttoned-down shirt and an ecru-colored lightweight blazer are among the styles. The collection will be available for pre-order by the end of next month, and orders will be delivered between May and June.
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