Today we’d like to introduce you to Selena Xin Jin.
Hi Selena Xin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In my childhood home, we had large closets filled with clothes, not always neatly organized. When I was bored, I would play with different garments, feeling their textures and exploring their designs like a treasure hunt. Soon, I became so familiar with clothes that I could locate items only by touch in the messy closet. I then developed sensitivity to textiles and design.
Studying design in London has always been my dream. I got into one of the best fashion schools in the world, London College of Fashion (LCF), majoring in Costume Design for Performance, which kickstarted my journey. Working in the field during college also played a significant role when I started my career. I created costumes for dancers at the British Royal Ballet School and made period costumes at Prangsta Costumiers London, assisted stylist Emma Jayne Lipop with commercial styling. This experience led me to work on the wardrobe for my first film, “IN2RUDERS.”
Learning a wide range of skills allowed me to think bigger. I studied filmmaking at the London Film Academy during the summer and directed my own fantasy film. Always fascinated by Guillermo del Toro’s films and their strongly visualized fantasy worlds, I wrote & directed my first film and made all the costumes from scratch. With over 10 Best Costume Design awards, my film “The Lady of the House of Love” was a huge success at film festivals. It’s a vampire story with a romantic twist, based on the story of the same name written by the British writer Angela Carter.
Knowing I wanted to pursue costume design for films, I moved to Los Angeles right after college to pursue an MFA degree in costume design at the California Institute of the Arts, where I received the Lillian Disney Fund Scholarship. From then on, I started working with more and more talented directors and producers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Significant challenges I, and many costume designers, face is that every project is so different. It means working with different teams, genres, shooting locations, and times. It is never the same. You have to adapt yourself to different situations.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Award Winning Costume Designer, working both in the US & CHINA. As a multidisciplinary visual artist, my artworks range across Costume Design, Directing, Painting, Fashion Design & Styling.
Costume Design & Styling
I’ve worked on many different genres in film & commercials, Fantasy & Sci-Fi is definitely what I am best at. The fantasy film I directed, “The Lady of the House of Love,” won over 20 awards in more than 12 film festivals, including：
WINNER of “Best Fantasy Film” in Top Shorts Film Festival,
WINNER of “Best Horror Screenplay” “Best Costume Design” in Los Angeles Film Awards,
WINNER of “Best Costume Design” in the Cinematic European Film Festival
WINNER of “Best Costume Design” in Cannes World Film Fest.
The Sci-Fi film I designed costumes for, “Bloom,” is the WINNER of Best Costume Design in the New York Cinematography Award. Another Sci-Fi film, “The Collector,” is the WINNER of “Best Sci-Fi Thriller Short” in the Miami Sci-Fi Film Fest. I recently finished designing costumes for another fantasy film, “Bird Eyes View”, and I am excited about what’s coming next.
I was born and raised in China until I was 15 years old; then I lived in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S., which nurtured my interest in stories that re-interpret the landscape between East and West. Researching historical stories and characters fascinates me, I enjoyed designing costumes for the period Feature Film “Swallowtail and Dragonfly” (2024) starring Russell Wong, Vivian Dawson , Vanessa Yao, Candace Kita and Cici Lau , set in the 20th century. It’s a docudrama about the magical life of the Chinese artist Lianxia Zhou (ZIYI), who lived both in China and the U.S. One interesting fact I discovered during my research is that during the early 20s, Shanghai was heavily influenced by western cultures, and so was their fashion. The crowd is wearing all kinds of styles—some wear traditional Chinese Cheongsam for women and “Zhong Shan” tunic suits for men, some wear a mixture of Chinese and Western styles, some wear full Western-style suits.
Painting
Painting is a big part of my creative journey. I started my art series “GALAXY RESEARCH LAB” in 2019 to explore painting from different worlds. It has two parts: 『 Travel & Arrival 』. The first shows the journey before arriving in another world, and the second reveals new discoveries after arrival. I began this project during the pandemic lockdowns in the US and China. It was a time to slow down and spend time alone. It made me hit the “pause” button in my life and think about my journey, sharing intimate stories with others. It is how the concept of 『 Travel & Arrival 』was conceived.
Exhibition
2023 “Summer Salon 2023”, Group Exhibition, Art Share L.A. Los Angeles, U.S.
2023 “Clairière”, Group Exhibition, Galerie Sentiments Art Gallery, Paris, France
2022 “Le Radici dell’Arte”, Group Exhibition, Themes Art Centre, New York, U.S.
2022 “5.4 ART”, Group Exhibition, “Rong Yuan” Art Gallery, Qingdao, China
2022 “Howart”, Group Exhibition, “Liao Cang” Art Gallery, Beijing, China
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk-taking is inherent in the creative industry, and it’s a crucial aspect of personal and professional growth. While not every risk leads to immediate success, the experiences gained and lessons learned contribute to continuous improvement and development.
Moving to Los Angeles from London to pursue an MFA degree in costume design was a substantial risk. It meant leaving behind my connections in the UK and entering a new page in a different country. Fortunately, it opened up opportunities for me to work with talented directors and producers in the thriving film industry of Los Angeles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://selenaxinjin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selena_xin.jin/?img_index=1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybi06UMzjqM&t=11s
