Rising Stars: Meet Erin Zhang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Zhang.

Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Erin, and I am a wardrobe stylist and fashion designer based in Los Angeles. I think many people know me primarily as a stylist, but I actually come from a fashion design background. Instead of going to a specialized design school, I chose to attend CSULB for a fashion design degree and also minored in marketing while I was there. I purposely took this route of non-focused schooling, even though the pursuit of design was my career determination, because I wanted to have versatility in my college experience and have the opportunity to pick up business skills as well. My foot in the door for my freelance career was starting out as an assistant for a stylist while I was still in school. This opportunity eventually progressed into my own professional development of where I am today. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Working in the creative industry is absolutely not for the weak. In the most realistic depiction I can give, it can not only be exploitive to your physical and mental health but also place you in positions of ethical considerations. “Starving artist” in many senses is a reality, especially when the cost of living in LA is so high, and rates can be so low/inconsistent in exchange. I think a common experience people share in this industry is figuring out the balance of setting a realistic rate for yourself and also learning to say yes/no to jobs that may offer an extravagant portfolio boost yet be disrespectful to your personhood. It often feels like a perpetual battle between feeling like you have to do free work to boost yourself, but also knowing what is or isn’t self-honoring. Being able to stay afloat long enough to meet the right people and projects for you before getting weeded out is definitely a prevailing circumstance. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In my role as a wardrobe stylist, I’ve taken on many areas of the industry, such as artists in music and entertainment, commercial branding, fashion lookbooks, and even personal wardrobe consultations with private clients. Because I have a design background, I typically approach much of my styling techniques with clothing construction in mind and am very familiar with clothing manipulation to best fit my client. 

In the ever-expanding area of my role as a designer, I’m currently developing my own fluid menswear collective, MIND ARCHES, launching later in 2024. Much of my work incorporates a synthesis of uncanny yet innovative design development, with an emphasis on my motto, “C.D.F.E.,” or “Creative Diligence for Evolution.” C.D.F.E. is a commitment to the continuous engagement of all the necessary creative input needed for progressive evolution and deliberate incorporation in all my designs within the studio. With this creative collective, my vision is to approach clothing with an intentional perspective of usage. 

When designing, I implement my styling perspective by taking into account a holistic stylization of what garments will look like when paired with other pieces of clothing. I like to incorporate design details that can be very intentional to how someone may style a garment and try to design every piece with multi-purpose and flexible utility. I believe that clothes are not just clothing but extensions of ourselves and can be interpreted in an unconventional way more than just covering our bodies. 

How do you think about luck?
I do not believe in the idea of luck. As a Christian, I fully believe in divine intervention and the intentional provision of the prospects that God has placed me in. I hold privilege in never feeling insecurities in my career interests, thus genuinely perceiving all opportunities I receive and lose out on as something part of a greater picture of what and where God wants me to fulfill and grow at this certain moment of my life and career. Life, in general, is ephemeral, so to me, career paths and business establishments can also be altered instantaneously as well. I try to keep an open mind, be faithful in the process of what comes my way, and know that what is for me is meant for me. If it is not, it will be removed for a reason. My success is subjective to me and what I believe God has waiting for me, even if it is perceived as “unlucky” to those on the outside. 

Contact Info:

• Website: erinbzhang.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akwardrhino/

Image Credits
Elinor Kry
Kevin Chang
Suzy Schofield
Zoe Thomsonn
Erin Ashley
Emily Lin
Ashley Yang
Joyce Ma
Lyena Kang
Antonio LaSanta
Tyson Wong
36neex
Alexis De La Isla
Sean Christopher
Ashln
Jamie
Gianni Gallant
Rafael P
Jonnelle Monzon⁣
Justin Villanueva⁣
Matthew McCormick
Itzel
Caitlin Gordon
Michelle Ruby
Stephanie Aquino
Christina
Kam Casey
Nevyn Matthews
Sala Johnson
Sabra Binder
Alec Wiens
⁣⁣Andrew Hogan