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August 7, 2002
Saratoga, California Since 1955 |
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Photograph by Kristopher Gainey
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Fashion designer Oo Shin will host her
first fashion show at West Valley College in
Saratoga, where she is a fashion
instructor.
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Local designer creates clothes of
'a different white'
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Mandy Major
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Oo Shin became familiar with fashion as a
child growing up in Korea. At 5 she started
designing doll clothes, and at 10 she was
sewing with a machine. By high school she was
well-versed in custom clothing.
The tailor-made clothing came as more of a
necessity than anything, as her very slight
frame was too small for ready-made clothes.
As a solution, her mother sought tailors to
make clothes that would fit well.
Today, as a promising fashion designer, Shin
is drawing from this past to build her
career. She has been in the country for eight
years, the last two as a fashion and design
instructor at West Valley College. She has
worked for multiple fashion houses in Los
Angeles, received a master's degree in
fashion design and textiles, and, with an
upcoming show and the chance at having her
own store, is on the brink of becoming a
well-known name.
Shin believes in a basic principle - making
one-of-a-kind items that make her clients
feel special and help them to create their
own image. She believes each person is a
walking canvas, with clothing, make-up and
hair all helping to create a unique style.
Teaching four classes per semester and
working on her own line has been no easy
task. With a show opening Aug. 9 in the West
Valley College Theater, Shin is still busy
changing buttons and checking hems. The show
was conceptualized last December, and since
that time Shin has regularly pulled 15-hour
days.
The main reason Shin has been so busy is
because of her biggest asset - unlike many in
the industry, she does it all ... from
sketching to design to production. But
working long hours, she says, is far better
than not creating.
"I became tired of looking at my students
creating something while I did nothing. I do
love instruction, but my dream has always
been to have my own collection," Shin says.
"I wished that I could do a fashion show, and
one day I said, 'Why not?' "
Shin went down to Los Angeles to meet with
her old contacts and pick up fabric. Design
always begins with fabric, Shin points out,
and then the sketching starts. After several
months she was ready to embark on her show,
titled A Different White.
"The collection came out of my pure love for
white clothing. But these designs—they
weren't just white, they were off-white—a
different kind of white. That is where the
idea for the name came from."
Traditional Korean clothing inspired many of
the pieces. "You cannot detach yourself from
your cultural background," Shin says. "And I
wanted to show my ethnic background with this
collection."
What Shin ended up with is a handful of
pieces sewn in a rich, pearl-colored,
textured silk that falls somewhere between
dressy casual and eveningwear.
"Vera Wang always says that less is better,
and I agree," Shin says, referring to the
famous designer. "I think the little things
make a huge difference, and I like to add
touches that you don't notice right away. You
end up appreciating the piece more and more
as you discover the detail."
Details like full lining, hand-sewn double
stitching and back buttoning combine beauty
with durability and practicality.
Shin hasn't decided on her prices yet. She
says it is important for people to understand
that they are "not just buying my clothes,
but buying my education." Then, with a laugh,
she adds, "But I can tell you they won't be
cheap."
For the show, Shin has made only one of each
design. She does not plan on selling the
displayed items at the show (although it is
possible to buy similar items on a contract
basis) because the show is intended more for
guests to learn about the trade and the
process of designing clothes. As such, the
show will not be like traditional trade shows
where models slink by every few seconds in a
new outfit. Instead, sketches of the designs
will hang from clotheslines, along with
sheets of billowing silk. A large video
screen will project images of her clothing
being worn by a model, who will also be
modeling the fashions live during the opening
night.
"Hopefully people will get something out of
my show. ... They will not just look at the
clothing to enjoy it, but also to learn more
about fashion and the steps involved," Shin
says. "I hate the idea that designers are
snobs who just sketch something in a few
seconds and are done."
"Fashion design is an art form, and designing
clothing makes me appreciate everything I
experience," Shin says. "I may not be
perfect, but I can try to make perfect
clothing."
"A Different White" will run Aug. 9-23 at
the West Valley College Theater. The
reception and opening night will be Aug. 9 at
6 p.m. Display hours are Monday through
Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 1
p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free; parking
costs $2. Visit www.ooshin.biz for more
information.
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