The Marionette Manipulator: Yvonne Poei-Yie Kwok

Dutch womens wear designer Yvonne Poei-Yie Kwok exercised meticulous craftsmanship in her debut collection titled 'We Dance Like Little Mary’s Swaying to the Symphony of Destruction'. The young designer and recent graduate is stepping out from the shadows of her Viktor & Rolf mentors to create a playful collection of garments inspired by marionette dolls and carnivals. "I was mainly inspired by the marionette and I've also been using references like carnival and punk culture that I've translated into a colorful and playful collection with a lot of handwork. I referenced biker jacket, little shorts, pleated skirts, and sweaters because I wanted to make a young and feminine collection," the designer explained.

The collection's lengthy title was necessary for Kwok to communicate the intentions of her craft. For Kwok, 'We Dance Like Little Mary’s Swaying to the Symphony of Destruction', emphasizes the battle with mental disorder caused by the restrictions within the fashion system where pressure plays a major role.

To match the mantra, the juxtaposition between feminine silhouettes and disarray is visualized in the collection as pleated skirts with amazing cuts are joined with subtle punk hints and fluffy poms are complemented by rigid string work. Quite a statement collection for the blooming designer whose craftsmanship surely exceeds her years.

Photography Courtesy of Yvonne Poei-Yie Kwok