duopel

Unstitched Motion - JENN LEE

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Jenn Lee is an experimental fashion designer who
established her label—JENN LEE—in 2013 while living in
Berlin, Germany. Lee strives to find perfection within the
imperfections of her work, and through these
imperfections discover pieces worth salvaging from the
broken chaotic remains. JENN LEE believes in freedom,
love, and peace.
There’s a lot going on in Jenn Lee’s studio. Everywhere you look something interesting
grabs your attention. A small altar decorated with stickers, a table with old records and
books, an ancient television set covered with empty wine bottles, a giant black cabinet
that begs you to look inside. The whole space feels like a mysterious art exhibition waiting
to be explored, the whirr of sewing machines reminding you that this is, in fact, a place
for creating fashion as well.
  • alt=
    It sounds a bit cheesy and cliché I
    think, but the vibe is one of freedom.
    I use a lot of color and bring different
    items in from the streets.
  • alt=
    I’m always searching for new fabrics
    and technology. Most clients don't
    want to experiment with their
    materials, but Duopel does.
  • I’m a very open-minded person.
    I can accept most things, and I
    like to try everything.
  • Having an opportunity to
    experiment with Duopel
    material was new for me, so I
    had loads of fun.
  • I would like to work with
    pineapple skin. Duopel is very
    attractive to me because of its
    eco-friendly production.
  • The only challenge was the
    time. I had many ideas I would
    have loved to experiment with,
    just not enough time.
  • Superficial" was my concept, I made
    the garments with a "graphic” look
    and style, and used no stitching—I
    used Duopel material for that.
  • The construction of my garments
    was not easy to understand, but they
    worked very hard to create the idea
    exactly as I had envisioned it.
  • When the garment was finally
    complete, I put it on immediately so
    I could take some photos and share
    it with my friends on my Instagram.
  • I want to be a person who’s not just
    doing more, but someone who
    speaks with some weight behind my
    words and can influence others.

From London to Berlin and back to Taipei, Jenn Lee is a
great example of a fashion designer who’s doing more—a
lot more—with her life and work. While her designs are
daring, and her popular Instagram posts seem to suggest
she’s the wild and crazy type, her calm and sophisticated
personality reveal a designer with depth and vision. Here
Jenn shares some of her early memories, how she first
discovered fashion, and her bold concept for Doing More
with Duopel.

Fashion Designer|Jenn Lee
"People think I’m this wild person, up all night drinking
and smoking. But I’m not this way. I sleep early, get up
early, I’m very normal. I'm doing a lot more than most
people think I am."

Q&A

Your studio is unique, what’s the
vibe you are trying to create?

It sounds a bit cheesy and cliché I think, but the vibe is
one of freedom. I use a lot of color and bring different
items in from the streets. It's cheap and looks good. The
problem is not knowing what is and isn’t rubbish. I once
found a huge sign out in the street. I thought it was
rubbish so I brought it back. Turned out it belonged to
someone else.

How did you feel about being asked to join the Doing
More project?

Very excited because I’m always searching for new fabrics and technology. Especially
because Duopel is a more eco-friendly material. Most clients I work with don't want to
experiment with their materials, but Duopel really does want to do more.

How would you describe yourself?

I’m a very open-minded person. I can accept most things, and I like to try everything.
I was very bad in school and didn't love going to class. I always got low scores, because I
didn't want to study. I would say our education system is a bit weird though so this is
one of the reasons. I was never told there’s a thing called fashion that I could do, so day
by day I was just doing nothing, having no passion. But after I found fashion, I feel
I found myself.

How did you find fashion?

I saw an advertisement on the MRT about a European exhibition. So I went and discovered the London college of fashion. This is when I first realized that fashion was a thing in the world. I knew I had to go. I secretly quit school in Taiwan. My parents didn't know about this. I went to London and told them later. I stayed there for five years.



What types of materials do you
typically use?

I love to work with leather but I know it's an issue. I would like to work with something like pineapple skin instead. But I don't know how to get that. Duopel fabric is very attractive to me because of its eco-friendly production.

What was your concept for this
project, and did it turn out the way you
wanted it to?

"Superficial" was my concept, I made the garments with a
"graphic” look and style, and used no stitching—I used
Duopel material for that instead since it’s a strong material.

Are you happy with what was created?

When the garment was finally complete, I wanted to wear it right away. In fact, I put it
on immediately so I could take some photos and share it with my friends on my
Instagram. It's really amazing, and the collaboration with Duopel was very inspiring.

What was your biggest challenge in this project?

The only challenge was the time. I had many ideas I would have loved to experiment
with, just not enough time.

What was the most interesting part of
this project?

My chat with the Duopel technician. I never met a person
who was more patient. The construction of my garments
was not easy to understand, but they worked very hard
to create the idea exactly as I had envisioned it.
I really appreciate this person and their help.

Is there anything else you want to be doing more of?

I feel fashion can be a very superficial thing in a way. Always talking about money and
style is too surface for me. I always wanted to have some more stories inside of my
design. Personally, I want to do more traveling, art, and collaborations with different
artists. I want to do more work that focuses on social issues too. I want to be a person
who’s not just doing more, but someone who speaks with some weight behind my
words and can influence others.



In your opinion, what is the future of fashion?

It will go more slowly. People will think and do things in a more detailed way in the future.

What do you think life on earth will be like, in 100 years?

No more humans, loads of green, lots of flowers.

Are you happy you worked on this project?

I loved this project very much. I’m always thirsty for new
ideas and concepts. Having this opportunity to
experiment with Duopel material in my own fashion
concepts was new for me, so I had loads of fun.

3 things people should be doing more:

  1. Traveling.
  2. Being more open-minded.
  3. Reading.

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