Photo Credit: Russell Yip, The Chronicle
A convertible car often conjures images of leisurely driving on highways next to the beach, conveniently letting down its rooftop on the first sign of rain. Architecture on the other hand, brings images of Greek columns, old cathedrals or polished, glistening corporate buildings.
Now, how about convenient, convertible fashion designed by a licensed architect?
Boditecture delivers you just that.
Now, how about convenient, convertible fashion designed by a licensed architect?
Boditecture delivers you just that.
Boditecture is a clothing line which delivers convertibility in more ways than one. Far from being an ordinary idea, Boditecture's revolutionary concept of transforming one's attire in up to eight different styles (to think: more than the astronomical seasons of a single year) or more may alter the ways in which you perceive clothing.
With emphasis on turning from morning conservative to midnight classy or any selectable style from these individual inventions - Boditecture allows an economy of space and time for the professional woman who lacks neither room nor abundance of moments to select a fitting dress according to the situation.
As described by its website, “Boditecture” means Architecture on the Body.
Even amidst her busy schedule, Boditecture founder Wen Guo took a break in order to make time for this interview.
Having worked in the top architectural firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill, did you ever feel as if pursuing a passion outside your position in the firm may stunt the growth of your career as an architect?
Designing fashion and architecture are almost the same to me. In fashion, I'm not really interested about making something glamorous or pretty. I'm more interested in how the clothes interact with the body and coming up with logical innovative products.
So it's really about design methodology and market research even though it happens on a very different vehicle.
I see the influence of coming from a licensed field in your work in terms of making great design outside the thinking limits of one's culture. However, was it ever tempting to use a Chinese template such as the body fitting gown for your clothing or was that totally out of the question as an individual designer?
My fashion pieces on the outside seem very much like modern contemporary pieces that have no historical or cultural relationship to my roots.
However, I have heard from multiple people that they found the traditional Chinese silhouette in my dresses. I think subconsciously I am heavily influenced by the Chinese feminine style.
We did create one collection for Chinese culture. We created a couple of unique designs for the Chinatown Community Children's Center charity event this year. One was a very traditional Chinese gown that transformed into a contemporary mini dress.
Another one was a jacket with a traditional button/fabric on its front, with a cape on its back. You can flip the cape to the front to cover the Chinese motifs and transform it into a modern jacket. These were auctioned out for two thousand dollars to sponsor a charity.
However, I have heard from multiple people that they found the traditional Chinese silhouette in my dresses. I think subconsciously I am heavily influenced by the Chinese feminine style.
We did create one collection for Chinese culture. We created a couple of unique designs for the Chinatown Community Children's Center charity event this year. One was a very traditional Chinese gown that transformed into a contemporary mini dress.
Another one was a jacket with a traditional button/fabric on its front, with a cape on its back. You can flip the cape to the front to cover the Chinese motifs and transform it into a modern jacket. These were auctioned out for two thousand dollars to sponsor a charity.
What was your threshold? When did you say, “I need to get started with my own brand”? Somewhere down the line something had to have urged you to finally take the plunge. It doesn’t necessarily happen for everybody.
One question is: do you have what it takes to go there? Can you stay in this line of work as an entrepreneur? Do you have a fall back plan? Do you have an exit strategy?
So for me, I started doing fashion on the side from 2008. I did not start working on it full time until three years later.
Boditecture gained a lot of traction from the local community. The turning point was last September when we got recognized by the formal community, involving San Francisco Fashion week and other groups. We also got the attention of VCs and we were seed funded. I quickly finished my architecture license, so it was okay for me to step away from that for awhile to start Boditecture.
Do you draw inspiration for your work from other sources? Anything outside formal design, it could be nature, history, music or video games, even social life or hear say? Just in general.
The whole transformation was rooted in my daily activity when I was working as an architect. During that time, I was also busy running a DJ music school with a friend. Going from work as an architect to attending an after work music scene was an inspiration because there was not enough time for me to go home and change.
From very rigid office wear to evening wear, it created a moment when I wanted something transformable from work to fun.
I'm amazed by how humble you are despite your success, were there ever times when you thought it would be disadvantageous to be humble?
The work speaks for itself so I don’t think I am being humble. If I am not talking too loud it would be because I still don’t think I’m successful enough to meet my own standards yet.
Boditecture is still very young and very new. I’m just being realistic and true to myself.
There’s still a long way to go before I realize my vision for Boditecture. And I guess that’s why people like Boditecture as well because it’s not being pretentious or anything.
If you could design other products like cars or amusement parks, what product would you do?
I am very interested in every day lifestyle, so I'm very interested in furniture to kitchenware and all the accessories at home. So basically, I’ll do product design for homes. So for example a knife and fork might be designed to combine together as one single utensil.
The open minded and international atmosphere in San Francisco is nice but if time and expense is no issue, where would you live if only for the fun of it?
I’ll live somewhere totally opposite of San Francisco.
If it is a short term stay, Golden Temple in India or somewhere with an extremely well preserved culture that isn’t globalized yet would be a good place so I can immerse myself to understand where the roots of humanity come from.
People are too used to what we have in a modern time, but a different culture might reveal something totally different on a design angle.
For example, a squatting toilet might actually be better than a sitting toilet? Maybe there are some fun facts that you'll find out. You won't find these interesting things until you go to the opposite side of what you have.
Any favorite dish? Have you tried anything unusual? What’s something you can have every day?
Oh rice. I love rice and I can just eat rice everyday without need of vegetables or meat. Even if people are going on a diet with no carbs, I can’t do that. I love rice.
Oh rice. I love rice and I can just eat rice everyday without need of vegetables or meat. Even if people are going on a diet with no carbs, I can’t do that. I love rice.
