Launched in 2016 by Sun Lam,
SUN=SEN makes a strong first impression. Her seemingly whimsical designs belie the amount of workmanship that goes into creating these colourful, standout pieces.
“Usually high street fashion has very simple silhouettes and printed graphics. But I want to do something unexpected and playful, with a lot of collages and weird pairings,” said the designer. Indeed, SUN=SEN is designed for young women seeking fun and surprises in what they wear every day. Fun is ingrained in its aesthetic, as is a melange of textures and colours.
Sun graduated from the University of Southampton with a Master of Arts in Fashion Design in 2015. Afterwards she interned with several independent UK designers until she was chosen as a finalist at the iD Dunedin International Emerging Designer Award 2016 in New Zealand, and was subsequently approached by a UK fashion platform. She then took the leap and launched her first collection, which she sold online.
She is now joined by her brother Stony Lam who takes care of the business side of things. Family plays a big role in Sun’s career since her family runs a fabric and clothing business so she grew up in a world of clothes, and has her own workshop in Zhongshan, where her collections are produced.
“Having my own workshop is the only way that my label is feasible because there is so much handiwork. It is otherwise very hard to control the quality of the collages and the cost would be too high,” Sun explained.
SUN=SEN’s SS 2019 collection is entitled “Ge Ge Wonderland”. Ge Ge, is a princess from the Ching Dynasty. The collection shows a sense of wonder and loss as if a displaced princess is thrown into an old Hong Kong neighbourhood.
The label was showcased at Paris Fashion Week by the Fashion Farm Foundation (FFF) at a presentation and cocktail party in February. “We received very good feedback and the showroom there is willing to continue to promote for us, hooking us up with the media, social media influencers and buyers. So even though we haven’t gotten any orders yet, it’s a good start,” said Stony.
