Check Out Yi Ding’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yi Ding.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
My name is Ding Yi/ Melody; I have a strong interest in exploring clothes language with female features and materials with vintage colors. After a four-year study in Italy, I am gradually clear about my desire to further develop in the field of knitwear. So, I applied a graduate knitwear program, and now I’m studying at IFM Paris. I‘m a vintage remaker, freelance creator, blogger, and consultant, and I am currently preparing my own design brand. 

In my opinion, the study of fashion design is not a single creation but needs to accumulate rich experiences. I attended lots of commercial and art projects and own rich experience in international competitions and interdisciplinary cooperation, these experiences inspired me to set up my own brands, further improving my own ability. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think learning business knowledge beyond design is a very important skill for creators. Compared to mature second-hand industry chains abroad, China’s sustainable market is still in its infancy and has great space for development. As Generation Z gradually becomes the main consumer of the fashion market, mid- to high-end consumers are more inclined to pay for limited and scarce products, embrace brands with environmentally friendly production methods, and reject industrial homogenization. As the manager of a sustainable brand focusing on material aesthetics, I am not only attracted by vintage, which is full of story and visual aesthetics, but also, I believe that my social responsibility and keen sense on the commercial market can help me go further on the road of design. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In my past creative career, I enjoyed creating illustrations and handmade works with a sense of fairy tales. And I have a long-term and stable cooperation with second-hand clothing manufacturers in Florence, Italy. Combined with zero waste of vintage materials, dead-stock fabrics, and reconstruction techniques, my design is pretty lovely and special. 

In the last year of my undergraduate study, the pandemic broke out, which made me learn how to make full use of limited resources. It is worth mentioning that my graduation design series were exhibited in Milan Fashion Week and Times Square and covered by different kinds of magazines. (Vogue Italy, RollingStone, WWD China, etc.) And these designs were involved in lots of project cooperation with artists. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I have been trying to share some of my works and opinions online since my undergraduate days, and I have nearly 30k followers on Chinese social media platforms. Red book is a famous app in China, which attracted many creators to share their works and career experiences. I am an introverted person in life, but I have a better space for expression on the Internet. I think self-media has built a communication bridge for creators and allowed more people to find opportunities for cooperation. Even if they are far apart 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.notjustalabel.com/yi-ding
• Instagram: melody_yiii