Designer interviews are the perfect opportunity to get closer to a brand and designer and learn more about their inspirations, motivations and design. This time, we’ve chatted with Cheyenne Xia, the founder and creative director of Verity & Volition, who told us how she started her career and where she imagines herself years from now.

 

Q. Give us a little insight into your creative background.

I have been playing the piano since I was 7 years old. I no longer compete, but it remains a source of my creativity and one of my hobbies. I studied drawing a little bit, but had to stop due the illness of the teacher. I started studying fashion design in 2012 and have been exploring my “right brain” ever since. The interesting thing is that nobody in my family is keen on sewing or making clothes.

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Q. What/who was your influence when you started your own label?

My father. He did not start writing full time until after he was retired. He has already published 4 books in 10 years and working on his 5^th one. His perseverance, his knowledge, wisdom, his sense of social responsibility and his conviction of keep learning gave me a lot of courage to start my own label. He is the true embodiment of verity and volition. He has always believed in me no matter where my path leads me.

 

Q. What have been your key inspirations for your design and concepts?

Classical music, diversity in culture, philosophy, contradicting elements in life, freedom, and anything that moves me.

 

Q. What is the essence of your label?

Truth, wisdom, and perseverance. Promote truth and truth purpose in e. Inspire, encourage, and share one’s quest for truth. Believe that these pursuits can be expressed through one’s fashion choices.

 

Q. Why does your fashion label stand out in this competitive industry?

I want to promote true purpose in living through my clothes and what I love doing. But that is the way that every human should be living their lives. I am just trying to make some noise and make people realize it more clearly. Also, we want to seek a new sales model to provide women with great products at affordable price point. We want to explore the possibility of merging fashion with technology in our future projects. I am not sure if these make us stand out, but I certainly hope so.

 

Q. Are there enough opportunities for emerging designers to showcase their designs and enter this competitive industry?

There are opportunities, but it always comes with a cost. Economics 101, there is no free lunch. The bigger the flat form, the more costly it usually is. The problem is not abundance of opportunities, but sensible cost-benefit decisions for the designers. We all need to be careful picking the stage to perform. It is competitive in terms of capital. The more capital you have, the longer you can hold out, which means the higher probability of succeeding. I am an economist, you see.

 

Q. Is the fashion industry campaigning enough for boutique labels and recognising emerging talent?

I don’t think I have enough knowledge and information to answer this question. I do see some support in the market. The problem is there are so many emerging designers now and entrepreneurship has become a more popular pursuit for the younger generation in all lines of work. Fashion is a pretty saturated market. But the great thing is that someone is out there trying to help and bring us to light.

 

Q. Who is your ideal customer?

Anyone who shares the vision and pursuit of truth and true purpose in life regardless of age, nationality, and life style and want to express these qualities in them via fashion.

 

Q. Have you any plans to collaborate with other labels or brands?

Not at the moment. I am open to such a dialogue though.

 

Q. What has been your most memorable success to date?

There are a few, but most recently switching from finance/economics to apparel design and starting my journey of entrepreneurship.

Q. What has been the most challenging stage when bringing your fashion label into the industry?

Production (including cutting and sewing) is, for me, definitely the most challenging part. It is firstly because during production stage, things are out of your hands (you can make patterns, grades and even make markers; but you cannot cut and sew all the garments); and secondly the factory and the designer have not formed the full and mutual understanding yet at the beginning. When your order is small, it is very hard to control the time of completion. Any mistakes could be costly and even deadly for that season. For example, if the cuts are not delivered to the manufacturer on time, the production could be postponed for half a month or even longer.

 

Q. What is your fashion label’s signature style?

Sharp enough to impress, but casual enough to be worn with everyday pieces. Simple with distinctive and contrasting or even contradicting elements.

Q. What are the key images you want to portray when people see or hear your brand name?

Verity – truth and volition – courage to pursue what is true and execute it, just like what the brand says. It doesn’t have a specific image. It is the essence internally which can take any shape and form externally.

 

Q. How would you describe your personal style?

I don’t think I have one, really. It depends on what I am doing and where I am. But when I am working (which is most of the time), I dress very casually which allows me to move around and maneuver things easily.  I love uniquely designed white shirts, sharp blazer and pants.

Q. Modafirma celebrates and welcomes new fashion and emerging talent; tell us why you decided to join our exclusive social fashion platform?

I feel that Modafirma is one of those platforms out there trying to help emerging designers to be seen, heard and succeed. You are humble enough to listen to what the designers have to say, and courageous enough to try to bring the designers to light. I like the collaboration model as well.

 

Q. What is your hope for the future of the label?

More people know about Verity & Volition; verity and volition and live by it to fulfill their purpose.

 

Our Favourites from Verity & Volition…

Draped Neck Wool Strapless Dress
Two-Tone Cross Tab Wool Pencil Skirt

 

… and Verity & Volition’s Favourite Art Pieces:

Art by: Yohji Yamamoto

Art by: Noell Oszvard