Fanrui Sun Exploring Fashion Through Enchanting + Unexplored Organic Forms

Fanrui Sun is a highly acclaimed digital artist and fashion designer from China. Renowned for her innovative approach, she seamlessly merges the worlds of luxury fashion and cutting-edge 3D technology. Throughout her career, Fanrui has collaborated with prestigious brands and creative minds, including Adidas, Mercedes Benz, and the esteemed photographer Nick Knight's Ikon-1 project. Her exceptional work has garnered recognition from prominent publications such as China Daily, Cosmo China, and ARTÉMIS. Fanrui Sun is making significant contributions as a member of Xtended Identity, a renowned digital fashion brand that celebrates the multifaceted nature of human identity. With an astute understanding of both the physical and digital realms, Xtended Identity seeks to revolutionize the fashion industry.

As an influential figure in the field, Fanrui draws inspiration from the enchanting and largely unexplored organic forms found in marine life. By amalgamating these fascinating physical inspirations with the unique characteristics of digital technology, such as algorithms and open methodology, she envisions clothing as a transformative force capable of redefining the notions of body and identity.

Moreover, Fanrui Sun actively confronts the potential limitations and drawbacks of the digital medium, striving to make digital fashion more accessible and inclusive. Her vision is to create a richer and more immersive clothing experience by thoughtfully examining the intricate connections and boundaries between fashion, the medium itself, and the way it intertwines with our lives. Through her remarkable talent and visionary perspective, Fanrui Sun is undoubtedly propelling the fashion industry into new realms of creativity and expression. Her work resonates with those who appreciate the fusion of innovation, artistic aesthetics, and a deep understanding of the transformative essence of fashion.

Join our exclusive conversation with Fanrui Sun x RED EYE:

Can you tell us about your journey into the world of immersive and digital design? What initially sparked your interest in these fields?

I graduated from Lumei Bunka International Fashion College and majored in fashion design and graduated at Royal College of Art, getting a master’s degree in digital wear. I have been working in digital fashion for 4 years currently, and have worked on a series of digital fashion projects such as ikon1, Benz, Adidas, ports, etc. I enjoy exploring different digital technologies in fashion such as AR, VR， 3D printing, interaction art, etc.

The greatest power that the digital world has given me is that it has changed my life. Before I was introduced to digital fashion, I always thought I was an ordinary Chinese woman. Because most of us are told from kindergarten we must study well and do a lot of homework so that we can get good grades and then get into a good university. So until we become adults, a lot of our time is spent learning how to finish papers in different subjects. Unfortunately, I wasn't a good student with good grades, at least not in China. So as a student, I was told I wasn't a successful person, that I was an ordinary person, and that I didn't even have a hobby that I could take up, except for painting. In China, as a woman, you are expected to be a good wife and mother, and your job is preferably a teacher. But I don't want to be like that.

Because I grew up loving to draw, but in China, if you wanted to enter a good art school, you still needed to pass a strict art exam, and at that time, there were rules for everything in art, so after I passed the art exam, I didn't love to draw, and when everything was required of me, I suddenly lost interest in it. So after I entered the art university, I lost the desire to create, I thought my life was not going to change anymore, finish my homework successfully, and then graduate and go home.

Because of the covid19, I had to stay home, I was introduced to digital fashion, it fascinated me, and it was full of unlimited possibilities, I started to create digital fashion, and unexpectedly my work was seen, and every person who encouraged me gave me more motivation, I met a lot of people who are meaningful to me through social media, such as Xtend-Identity, SYKY, Scry Lab and you♥, every one of them has helped me a lot. Digital fashion changed me, it took me from a small city to London, I took the energy from the digital world and created work to give back, I started drawing and creating again, and I started to work hard to express myself, I'm not ordinary, everyone is unique, I realized that I love fashion and art, and that's the energy of the digital world, and I'm sure that it can change more people in the future, and I want to join in this with my power.

Your design explores the relationship between luxury sensibilities with 3D technologies. How would you describe your aesthetic and the overall vision behind your creativity as a multidisciplinary artist?

As a designer I am always looking for new forms of expression. With emerging technologies, I am intrigued by the idea of expressing creativity through phygital pieces.Since digital fashion is a brand new field, everything in it has yet to be explored. I think my work is based on a passion to face a brand new field to explore its various possibilities: new forms, new ways of blending with other fields, new technologies.

One key aspect of my approach is to leverage digital technology, such as algorithms and open methodology, to reimagine clothing as a transformative force. This means pushing the boundaries of what I consider traditional fashion, challenging the very definition of the body and identity through my designs.

Today, technology offers us unprecedented possibilities, and through various digital mediums, we can enrich the fashion experience, promoting inclusivity and diversity in how we express our bodies and identities. I just see digital technology as a tool to help me realize my ideas，and I like to experiment with how to relate different digital technologies to the physical world, such as using 3D printing, or projection, scanning, etc.. My personal experimentation with 3D technologies such as AR, VR, and 3D printing has been instrumental in this journey.

Can you elaborate on the inspiration behind your visuals and immersive works? How do you approach the process of designing these pieces?

Nature and organic forms have always been a major source of inspiration and creativity in my designs. I have always been drawn to the beauty, complexity and endless creativity found in nature - the power of natural beauty - and these elements have profoundly influenced my work.

Colour plays a very important role in my designs, it is one of the key elements to express and convey emotions, personality and design themes. I am mainly inspired by nature and marine life, the ocean has the power to encompass everything and the marine life in it appeals to me, their structure and brilliant colors inspire me to be very creative. I really love the colorful and stunning colors of marine life, such as coral reefs in a wide range of reds, pinks, oranges and purples, and the variegated polarized metallic surfaces of banded fish, they are very appealing.

Also, Like plants, animals and landforms in nature have their unique forms and structures and colors, and these forms have often been the basis of inspiration for my designs. At the same time, the ecosystems of nature inspire me to think about sustainability and environmental protection. I endeavor to convey my respect and preservation of nature in my designs, and I hope to use my narratives to inspire people to reconnect with nature and to convey the idea of sustainability and beauty in fashion.

Future eco-systems and surroundings are becoming increasingly important in the design industry. How challenging is it for you to incorporate these values into your design process in order to last for a long-term period?

As a digital fashion designer, we need to consider how we can push the fashion industry in a greener direction. A lot of my work uses 3D printing technology and from a 3D printing perspective, I am trying to learn more about the latest developments in sustainable materials, looking for materials that fulfill the design needs as well as having environmental attributes, such as looking for recyclable and biodegradable 3D printing materials, which I will then combine with 3D printing and put into design and production in the future. This is a big challenge for me as I haven't tried all the materials and technologies available and their life cycle assessment is complex as it involves multiple stages of design, manufacture, use and disposal and can require a lot of energy.

What role does collaboration play in your work? Have you collaborated with other creatives, and if so, how has that influenced your creative output?

I regularly collaborate with people from different disciplines and have been involved in a range of commercial collaborations such as Mercedes Benz, Adidas ikon1 and many others. In most of these collaborations, I have been responsible for the design and production of digital clothing. Because the production of a beautiful digital video requires a huge number of steps and involves different disciplines, I feel so lucky to be able to work with such a group of professional and talented designers, we share our experiences in the industry, each one of us is fully creative in his or her own field, combining different areas of expertise, and we are constantly challenged to create more in-depth and innovative works. It was a great opportunity for me to learn more about digital production and to think about the future of digital fashion.

How did your childhood background influence your journey? Are there any specific elements of your roots that inspire you?

When I was a kid, I was really into matchmaking games like Dungeon Fighter and The King of Fighters, which were the first games to make me aware of the whole new universe that technology brought. Different character images, especially the distinctive clothing appearance.Buying equipment, props and clothing in games gave different looks and attributes to characters, but also brought about an early sense of clothing and identity that arose between players- a kind of society. These arise entirely in the digital world, which is like a simplified and diverse version of the real world, and it is fascinating for a child to have easy access to these unique looks. They made me, as a young child, envision my own digital identity and image. While art is a deeper perspective on reality, fashion has a deep history of its own, reflecting the popular culture of different periods, which contains a complex relationship between the body and concepts of appearance, identity, surface, space, society, etc. I think we're in a great age of convergence of information, where the digital world is channeling global cultures in front of our eyes, and we're understanding and learning and absorbing those cultures, and then creating the results of that convergence.These relationships give fashion more diverse possibilities, and therefore more responsibilities and obligations. As Wilson said: when we wear clothes, our bodies are inscribed with an ambiguous relationship between art, personal psychology and social order. For me, as mentioned above, the aesthetics of fashion and the question of identity have been with me since I was a child, and by investigating the possibilities of fashion, I have been able to express myself through a unique perspective.

Tell us more about your experience as part of SYKY Collective, the luxury incubator for digital fashion. What has this experience brought to your journey in terms of new ways in fashion innovation? What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a creative, and how have you overcome them?

Being a member of the SYKY Collective has proven to be an immensely enriching experience that fills me with pride. With the unparalleled support of SYKY mentors, I've strengthened various aspects of my brand. Accessing their extensive experience and industry knowledge is a resource I highly value. As a result, I've had the opportunity to acquire new tools and tactics in business and marketing, significantly contributing to the growth and elevation of my brand, Sunw. Thanks to the steadfast support from the SYKY team, I've been able to strategically develop my personal brand, allowing me the space to infuse renewed energy, enthusiasm, and creativity into my digital designs. What distinguishes SYKY is their profound respect for the individual styles and working preferences of each designer. This creates an environment where creativity flourishes without hindrance. It's crucial to emphasize that SYKY's guiding principle centers around empowering and inspiring us designers, ensuring that our creative autonomy remains untarnished. I am so excited about the journey ahead as I collaborate with the SYKY family to help shape the future of fashion.

How do you think digital design can lead to a positive impact on humans and what advice would you give to future creatives?

Digital design provides us with a wider and more flexible means of creative expression. Not only does it have a low threshold, giving everyone the opportunity to participate, and transcends the limitations of physical time and space, we are able to quickly express our ideas through digital technology, which can inspire more people to also participate in this environment of creation and expression. At the same time, digital platforms offer designers the opportunity to collaborate globally. Designers can collaborate remotely, share design concepts and facilitate cross-cultural creative collisions, which helps to drive innovation in the global fashion industry. All of my collaborative projects so far have been done remotely, all I need to do is to be at home or in a café, and through digitalisation I am able to work with designers from all over the world. I think that as designers we can be positive in the face of today's rapid and iterative development of digital technology, we can continue to learn and explore new technologies that interest us, and we can try to collaborate with professionals in different fields to expand our creative thinking. Digital design involves many fields, and collaboration with other fields can bring us new inspiration and perspectives.

Are there any exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon?

I'm currently collaborating with friends in different fields, with the main direction being how to connect 3D printed parts with different processes to make it practical and visually appealing. Also working with a friend who focuses on digital imaging on our new digital film production, which is planned to be exhibited at the MIT Media Lab afterwards.

A letter to your future self. What would you write?

Let me see where you are now and what interesting things you have learnt.

I don't know if you still feel anxious about yourself, but in any case, please believe that I am already looking forward to being the future you now.

Interview by @mirawanderlust

Images courtesy of @sunwanw

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