Jianing Hu

About

I am Jianing Hu, born in China in 2001.

Over the past few years, I have observed that inclusive and adaptive clothing design often focuses primarily on functionality, typically catering to the needs of specific groups. While this is an essential aspect of inclusive design, it sometimes overlooks other psychological needs, such as the desire for aesthetics. Everyone has the right to pursue beauty, and many people do not wish to be labeled as part of a “specific group.” Therefore, I believe that inclusive and adaptive clothing can be designed from a broader perspective, one that appeals to a wider audience.

Many of my design inspirations stem from personal experiences. For example, my work “Hiding and Revealing” was inspired by an experience where I lost all my nails due to an infection. During that time, I felt deeply insecure and anxious, often hiding my hands in my sleeves to avoid drawing attention. This experience led me to think about the complex psychological needs people have regarding the concealment and exposure of their “imperfect” body parts in different situations. As a result, I designed garments with expandable and retractable features, allowing the wearer to freely adjust their clothing according to the occasion and their emotional state. This functionality can provide a degree of convenience to all groups, while also maximizing the aesthetic appeal of the clothing, preventing it from being defined as solely for “specific groups.”

Through my designs, I aim to convey this message: we should allow ourselves to feel insecure at times, permit ourselves to hide certain aspects, and recognize that we don’t need to maintain perfection in every situation.