A new language of rebellion.
Weaving together elements of rebellion, Kiito designer Vicky Hseih recently unveiled her latest collection titled ‘Nocturnal, Normadic, Rock,’ pulling inspiration from nomadic lifestyles and the Rock and Roll scene. Uninterested in reviving a biker jacket to signal rebellion as other designers have, Vicky Hseih uses the collection to combine and highlight themes such as movement and the shared refusal to succumb to societal norms and the status quo, which have become hallmarks of the two cultures.
Three pieces carry the collection, with a military-style jacket that boasts a stiffened, standing collar taking charge. With an exaggerated army aesthetic, the piece boasts an assortment of metal buckles and tassels, studded rather than printed, across the chest and cuffs, giving it the faint clicking presence of a highly decorated soldier’s uniform. Elsewhere, the collection features a long tunic-like dress which draws its silhouette directly from nomadic dresses, featuring an irregularly torn hem, a thigh-high slit that opens the piece up, allowing for airflow and ease of use, mirroring the practical demands Normadic dresses were created for. The dress is rounded out with dense embroidery and bedwork that is concentrated along the neckline and cuffs. While the final piece in the collection is a cropped leather top, with exaggerated shoulder lines, wide sleeves and a large hand-embroidered motif across its back, a direct nod to the bold graphics usually found on the back of rock concert merch.
What sets this collection apart is Hseih’s control over the materials, comfortably balancing the distinct nature of the nomad and the rock bands, paying attention to the individual tailoring and beadwork that are layered cohesively onto each piece. Produced entirely in a black colourway, the collection serves as Hseih’s take on modern rebellion, as the black hues draw attention to the embroidery work, which makes this collection a standout.
Inspired by Nordic culture and rock musicians, this collection’s defining feature is its embroidery. Fragmented mandalas crafted in silver thread, dark gold, and charcoal grey recur throughout all three pieces as a recurring motif rather than a single decorative element. Ultimately creating bold, nomadic-like pieces with a rebellious rock band edge, yet fully Kiito in design.
Check out pieces from the collection in the images below:
PHOTO CREDIT: Vicky Hseih
