YINA is a New York-based fashion brand by designer Yina Hwang, with a focus on the balance between abstraction and sophistication. Yina finds inspiration in contrast. Whether individual elements are considered to be “ugly” or “beautiful” / “dull” or “vibrant” / “clean” or “distorted,” it’s when they’re placed into juxtaposition to one another, she believes, that their genuine harmony is revealed. Yina’s unique prints and creative constructions embody the delicate and unique elements of high-end fashion, but also approachable in practicality. The brand aims to break down the wearer’s restriction for the freedom of expression and help the wearers bring out their own spirits.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Yina spent most of her childhood with her trade-merchant father in the factory district of Yiwu, China. Growing up in a city lacking in cultural life meant that the streets, factories, and markets became her source of artistic inspiration, rather than galleries or museums. As Yina’s curiosity about “what is beautiful” grew, she started going back and forth to visit her artist mother, who is a poet and a theater actress in Seoul. The disparity between these two very different cities and environments was stimulating, and what was what helped her to arrive at her own unique interpretation of beauty.
When she arrived in New York, Yina honed her design skills at Parsons School of Design and had the opportunity to work with world-renowned brands such as Jonathan Simkhai and Lie Sang Bong. In 2016, she was selected to represent one of fifteen designers from Parsons to participate in the Fusion Fashion Show. Her work had been featured in fashion magazines including VOGUE Italia, Huf Magazine and Knots Magazine.
Company Contact:
Yina Hwang
Email: yinahwangstudio@gmail.com
Ph: 646.401.3183
Website: www.yinahwang.com
Instagram: @yinahwangstudio
New York, USA
