Our Favorite Instagrammers – @KingYuYiu
Name: King Yu Yiu
Instagram Name: @kingyuyiu
Amount of followers: Currently has 1108 wonderful supporters and counting.
Residence: London, England
Occupation: Creative Director
I’m a Designer by day and a Painter by night. Favourite place to dine has to be a charming little Chinese restaurant “The Golden House” located in the heart of Somerset; they truly do ‘the’ world’s best Sweet and Sour Chicken. Besides career related passions, I love the air at the top of Glastonbury Tor, definitely one of my favourite spots in England.
- Why do you share your outfits? And why Instagram?
To share the beauty of faded indigo; as an artist, colours are everything in my work and the shear uniqueness of natural fading over time is gorgeous. It’s a fantastic visual diary to show your vision amongst with other great photographers.
- What makes your Instagram feed so special?
Documenting my current LEE 101Z, 19oz on a weekly basis with a strict ‘no wash’ policy. Alongside this, I feature artworks from past collaborations to hopefully inspire others, the highest level of satisfaction I’ve personally experienced.
- Where does your inspiration come from?
From hand embroidered critters underneath a lapel of a tailored suiting jacket to vintage clippings of botanical studies – depending on what my mind and eye is programmed in that moment of time, it can literally be anything and the search is always endless.
- Where does your love for denim come from? When did it start?
It would definitely be the first day working at Evisu back in 2007, when the head office was still based in Savile Row. It was a complete eye opener to the world of denim and tailoring; the smell of wet indigo from the drizzled morning rains while commuting to developing my first embroidery artwork, they showed me the ropes to becoming a denimhead. All the guys were fantastic; I owe it to that close-knitted friendly team.
- Your top 3 favourite (denim)brands? And why?
1). In my opinion (bearing in mind it does involve with some sentimental reasons too), which claims to be the “Rolls-Royce of Jeans” it would be Evisu for me BUT Japan mainline where the designs are still authentic to how they were back then. I never forgot the story when Mark told me a pair were once sold for $400 back in the early 90’s compared to $50 by Levi’s – people were fascinated as to how a pair of unheard jeans can have such a value at the time but after knowing their ’13 pairs a day’ production run – that commitment was the true meaning of quality and craftsmanship. They involved elements of humour to their collection too which I could relate to.
2). From an avant-garde point of view, it would all have to go to Carol Christian Poell. From his tedious hand stitched bison leather jackets to fibreglass incorporated woolen fabrications, simply put it is state of the art. Even his jeans are on another level with his ingenious ‘one-piece’ pattern makings and constructions. There is no such thing as flaw in his work.
3). Out of the three denim powerhouses, for me it is LEE – beautiful fits with nice contemporary approaches to their current collections. Learning their heritage while we collaborated together back when I was designing for Vivienne Westwood covered another chapter in my world of denim, the head office was in Antwerp and a cute little place to visit – was always a pleasure.
6. What is your favourite accessory?
My watch. My Cartier passed on from my folks when I was appointed as designer for my first job. (I always like to keep on time so I put my hands 5 minutes early!)
7. What items do you wear the most at the moment? Why?
My LEE 101Z, 19oz everyday to document on a regular basis showcasing the natural evolution of indigo fading. One of the only products that really does look impressive with age and wear.
- What is your favourite shop? And what is your favourite webstore?
The Conran Shop and Liberty London both for their charming and easygoing reasons.
- Do you care about the production process? Why (not)?
Absolutely, from the initial sourcing of cotton plants to ring dyeing the yarns ready for weaving – every mill has their own steps of creating their vision and its those stages taken which makes the difference from one another; that’s the real beauty where people can have the choice of selecting. Same goes with designing and constructing a pair of jeans; what type of fit to cut, which rivets if any, what thread thickness to apply and what colour? This is what I call “the decoration” process, it’s beautiful and is what I enjoy the most. Constantly learning on the job about the latest techniques and methods of today’s technology is invaluable.
- What are your dreams for the future?
To have a cosy little studio near the countryside where I am able to collaborate with more fantastic brands and to illustrate all day long (hoping) to be appreciated by the people…whilst having a cup of tea and biscuits.
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