Xuehu Zhang makes video game clothes for the physical world

Taken from SYKY Magazine: Issue 02's “Materials for the Future” series, which features radical designers pushing technology to create new materials that redefine how we wear and interact with fashion. Collect the digital cover now.

Xuehu Zhang creates fashion that looks like it’s been pulled straight out of a video game. Originally from Xinjiang, China, and now based in the Paris, Zhang blends traditional craftsmanship with technologically-advanced techniques and digital aesthetics to create pieces whose exaggerated, low-poly-inspired silhouettes and bold, pixellated visuals bend the mind.

A recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, the designer's 2024 master’s collection, ANEMOIA, was a standout. Citing influences like Superliminal, a surreal video game based on forced perspective, the collection's illusionary effects and playful proportions earned a special mention in Forbes. Head-to-toe looks from the series felt both nostalgic and futuristic, transforming wearers into living video game characters – a feeling compounded by the designer's accompanying Low-poly campaign, which leaned further into surreal, shifting aesthetics.

Currently, Zhang is working on a contemporary capsule collection that explores the aesthetics of different Chinese ethnic groups and their time-honored techniques for clothing craft, continuing their unique approach of blending tradition and future.

Can you describe the materials and techniques you use to create your pieces?

Xuehu Zhang: My work revolves around a mix of traditional craftsmanship and advanced digital techniques. I use a range of materials like wool fabrics, knitting, cotton jersey, and felt fabrics for their versatility, and ability to hold unconventional shapes.

I enjoy taking regular materials and exploring alternative possibilities with them. For example, in my last collection, I used an airbrush gun to dye deeper shadows onto wool fabric, mimicking a low-poly graphic aesthetic. While it looks like a digital print, the effect was achieved entirely by hand. This blend of manual craftsmanship and digital-inspired visuals is central to my design approach.

You often uses digital and early video game aesthetics in your work. What is it about that aesthetic that you're drawn to?

Xuehu Zhang: I've always liked pixel and low-poly aesthetics for their way of simplifying things. Our carbon-based organisms are made up of countless cells, which are abstract on their own, but when combined, they form fantastic life forms. In the same way, individual color blocks may not hold any meaning by themselves, but when arranged in certain combinations, they can produce interesting and complex information.

I really like the transition between the macro and micro. In low-poly game aesthetics, the modeling is often rough, like a general outline, which reminds me of drawing portraits or still life as a child. The results might not be very realistic or accurate, but they reflect a natural perspective and understanding of the world. This primitive, unpolished view of the universe has always fascinated me.

You previously did some 3D modeling work for designers like Windowsen and Violette des Roseaux. Are you planning to release any 3D printed pieces as part of your own brand?

Xuehu Zhang: Yes, absolutely. I want to push the boundaries of how 3D-printed products can become more wearable in daily life, rather than just being showpieces.

We can picture your designs as digital pieces. Would you consider releasing skins or wearables for games or virtual worlds?

Xuehu Zhang: I’m very interested in bridging the gap between digital and physical fashion. The idea of creating exclusive skins or wearables for virtual worlds or video games aligns perfectly with my ethos. It’s something I’m actively exploring. 

Are there any other designers working in the space whose work excites you?

Xuehu Zhang: I’m deeply inspired by designers like Iris van Herpen and Kiko Kostadinov; Kiko's ability to balance functionality with contemporary design is especially exciting for me. In the digital space, I admire artists like Ian Cheng, whose work explores the intersection of art and technology through live simulations and digital ecosystems. His pieces explore themes like evolution, human behavior, and consciousness, creating immersive experiences that challenge perceptions of reality. His work is incredible.

Is there anything new in terms of materials or technology that you’re exploring at the moment?

Xuehu Zhang: I am currently working on a project related to the aesthetics of different ethnic groups in China. Their traditional clothing crafts are incredibly impressive, and I hope to use these amazing techniques to create more contemporary products, which I plan to release as part of a capsule collection. I’m looking forward to sharing it with the world. 

Taken from SYKY Magazine: Issue 02. Collect the limited-edition digital cover creatively directed by Nicola Formichetti until February 13. Keystone Holders get a free mint.