If you’re reading this on your mobile phone, you might want to check if the case is designed by Sanchia Lau. Her paintings may even adorn the plate from which you’re eating, or the wallpaper of the room you’re dining in. At just 26, this feminine, whimsical artist and designer also creates amazing clothes for women, and does so with an attentive eye for detail. Her style could be called fusion, blending her western education with traditional Asian influences. But don’t let her millennial status fool you, her seemingly overnight success is well-earned, a result of her big dreams and constantly curious mind. A graduate from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and Central Saint Martin’s in London, majoring in textile design, she decided to launch her own fashion brand due to her love of fashion and art.
Macau CLOSER got to catch up with the eclectic artist just before her first fashion show at Macao Fashion Week at The Venetian Macao earlier in October, and here is what we – and now you – discovered about her.
How old were you when you first realized you wanted to pursue fashion?
I think I was around 15 years old when I learned art in high school, because I really loved to sketch different Chinese-dynasty girls; their clothes, their jewelry, their styling, the colors of their embroidery and weaving. Kind of like that. The first time I saw different people; different characters, wearing different styles of clothes, in the beginning I would draw them as paintings, but after four years of drawing in my university, I thought “is this the only way for me to develop my dream, develop my goals?” So I learned different schools of art like cubism and pop art. I find it very interesting when I see John Galliano from Central Saint Martins, and Alexander McQueen, use different kinds of art and get inspiration from British artists. That is a very interesting way for me to put clothes; put textiles, put different jewelry on the human body and that was the time I realized, “Oh, can I be a designer and not just an artist?”
You acquired your education in this industry from two distinct cultures, like Yin and Yang; Eastern – China for Fashion Design, and Western – London for Textile Design. Do you feel that your exposure to these two different cultures gives your creations an eclectic, unique flair that blends the best of both worlds?
Yes, in my opinion, I think my Chinese education taught me very good techniques to make clothes, but in London I met different artists, different people, saw a different culture; which gave me a lot of creative inspiration. When I went to the museum, I met different people there from different countries. The museum, vintage market; they showed me a lot. I think the biggest difference is between the creative process and the result. In China, we are sometimes taught to follow step by step, but in London they taught me how to create, how to be myself. So this was very different. When I went back to China, I tried to balance these two.
Apart from that, you have already been invited to collaborate for projects outside the fashion industry? It must be a great opportunity, right?
Yes, I really enjoy it. I remember, around July last year, I did a project with Macau Artisan for different schools in art and fashion, to teach kids to learn: if you don’t have a pen, what kind of material could you use for painting? So I tried to interact with them; we used paper, we used jewelry, even something you could pick up from the dust bin, things like that. Because for me everything you see may be an inspiration. I remember when I was studying at Saint Martin’s, around the second year, our tutor taught me how to use a battery – you know, a battery, it’s amazing – to do our painting, as well photography in the hospital; like how to combine X-ray into print. This gave me a lot of inspiration to create print; create fashion and not use the usual ways. So it’s very interesting to give the children; the students from Macau Art Museum from K to 11 a new vision to design print, to design fashion. I remember something most interesting – we also used a broom to create a painting!
As both a fabric and clothes designer, does this give you freedom to create whatever comes to your mind?
Actually we just finished our design for Beijing Chinese Design Week. It’s an honor for me to collaborate with the government. Also, we did the Harper’s Bazaar project – to design their yearly gift for them. I think I enjoy fashion and art more, or doing a crossover. I want to elevate art. I think art is not only in a gallery or in the museum, but everywhere in your life – your wardrobe, your wallpaper, your cushion, in your lifestyle. I really love a brand like Marimekko. She brings her prints everywhere – umbrellas, wallpaper, plates…
With the world being so receptive to your creations, how do you envision the Sanchia brand in, say 10 years?
I have a secret. My print, my fashion and art prints could be on a plane, could be in space, in the building, all over the city! From the beginning, I did this to the wallpaper and some cushions first, then evolved step by step. This is my goal and dream. I hope Sanchia’s print could spread all over, like into umbrellas, t-shirts. The last time was really interesting, we designed the print on t-shirts. Like this (holding up sample) is our iPhone case printed product.
What would you like to say to your followers and our readers who love your work?
To be honest, I want to say the fashion business is not easy for a new designer in the beginning. I am confident of, and really grateful for, my team and my family who support me. You have to always have a team to achieve your dream. If you depend on your own it will not happen. I think it’s a process; I still have a long way. I keep learning, I think learning is really important! Everyone has a different talent and I see it and I admire and get inspiration from everyday people that I meet!
*Bella Lopez is Macau-based Fashion writer. Find her on Instagram @bombshellinthisdress
Photos by @jorgebryan03
