About Me
Hello, I'm Sonia, a Fashion Knitwear Design student from NTU
Sonia Suwanvanichkul is a rising fashion designer who specialises in couture knitwear and knitted textiles. Her unique experiences with couture knitting techniques and fascination with modern technology have combined to make her able to develop fabrics of the future. She is a multi-award nominee across the Graduate Fashion Week competitions.
After studying Fashion Knitwear design, I experienced the mediocrity of general knitwear and have noticed the stigma behind expanding the traditional focus of knitwear. Due to this stereotypical approach, I wanted my designs to explore more unorthodox pathways and to include unique shapes and constructions. My aim is to reinvent the face of knitted textile by incorporating several technological aspects and shape configurations into my couture knitted samples to showcase the true potential of knitted textiles, while also displaying the many uses it will concur in the future fashion markets.
INSPIRATION
My inspiration stems from the practical use of technology within everyday life.
During the COVID-19 pandemic I was able to witness the technological boom that occurred throughout the world and how every industry seemed to be integrating some form of advanced technology into their infrastructure. This led me to research ways in which I would be able to integrate innovative technology into my knit samples. Through this research, I learnt the versatility and multiple forms that knitwear could take. This built the basis of my collection Tech Disruption.
I derived potential designs from different medias, including modern architecture; where I studied the foundations and patterns of window placements to help develop pattern textures and shape constructions. I then began experimenting with many different technological aspects, such as 3D printing, Thermochromic (smart) materials and specially engineered metallic yarn to see what combinations could be used to form a fabric befitting of the future generations.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
LAYOUT OF COLLECTION COLOUR PALETTE
TECHNOLOGY ASPECTS UTILISED WITHIN COLLECTION
DEVELOPMENTS IN TEXTURAL RESEARCH
VISUAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
OUTIFT 1: DRESS CONSTRUCTION AND TOILE DEVELOPMENT
OUTFIT 2: INITIAL LOOK AT BEAD SKIRT
OUTFIT 3: DISCOVERING SHAPE AND CONNECTIONS
IMPLEMENTING 3D PRINTING DIRECT-TO-FABRIC
COLLAGE OF EXPERIMENTAL A3 KNITTED SAMPLES
COLLECTION SAMPLES DERIVED FROM EXPERIMENTS
FINAL LINEUP
OUTFITS 1, 2 WORN BY LIVE MODELS
OUTFIT 3 AND GROUP SHOT WORN BY LIVE MODELS
DETAIL
I created the setting and the atmosphere to best coalesce to my futuristic collection concept.
With this fashion film I wanted to best express the personalities of all 3 garments. With the futuristic, metallic background, I wanted to create an otherworldly plane which would showcase the vision of what these garments would look like in a futuristic setting, and to prove that they would befit such an environment.
‘Challenging the traditions, breaking the stereotypes and demanding change in the industry to recognise the possibilities in knitwear.’
Graduate Fashion Week in partnership with:
