FUTURE FASHION: YIMENG YU EXHIBITION LAUNCHES IN METROTOPIA

METROTOPIA PRESS RELEASE – DECEMBER 7, 2023
Metrotopia unveils its first fashion exhibition showcasing the extraordinary work of YIMENG YU, the interdisciplinary fashion designer, digital artist and Fashion Design Director at the Central Academy of Fine Art (CAFA) School of Design.
Yimeng Yu’s artistic journey is a testament to the harmonious convergence of chaos and order, creating a visual symphony through the meticulous interplay of algorithms and design. Her expertise lies in crafting a “design machine” powered by algorithms that navigate infinite form possibilities. By seamlessly integrating bottom-up generative algorithms with top-down aesthetic control, she transforms disorder into an exquisite dance of controlled unpredictability, to which she refers as “Parametric Nature”. The result is a kaleidoscope of designs that echo the organic growth of natural organisms, embodying the delicate equilibrium between opposing elements.
Metrotopia, the metaverse brand created by Zaha Hadid Architects and ArchAgenda, aims to amplify and evolve the role of fashion as a societal communication system. The synergy between Yimeng Yu’s groundbreaking designs and Metrotopia’s high-fidelity innovation hub, designed in the style of Parametricism, signals a new epoch in the evolution of fashion. This collaborative endeavor extends beyond showcasing mere garments; it is an immersive experience that transcends the boundaries of conventional fashion.
Metrotopia is a cinema quality, high-fidelity, multiplayer 4D virtual city that Yimeng Yu describes as “an outstanding platform to explore the potentialities of future fashion, transcending the possibilities of conventional fashion forms, crossing the dimensions of wearable experience immersed in an ecology of panoramic scenarios. This holds significant importance in extending the boundaries of fashion design and display, introducing a fresh and insightful perspective to the field of future fashion.”
Patrik Schumacher, principal of Zaha Hadid Architects, praised Yimeng Yu’s designs: “I have long since been craving for a new direction for fashion beyond the usual retro-cycles. Yimeng Yu’s virtuoso computational designs apply the dynamism and organic intricacy of natural forms to a very fresh approach to fashion. This is truly a fashion for our times that could not have been designed or even imagined before.”
Daniela Ghertovici, founder of ArchAgenda, remarked: “Yimeng’s intricately exquisite designs stand as provocations that challenge traditional notions of ‘stylishness’ with thoughtful, inventive and powerful exuberance. Her creations transcend trivial adornment of the body, transforming it into a canvas for spatial exploration. With a consummate elegance, her designs invite reflection on the dynamic intersection between 21st century culture and ‘Parametric Nature’, a term she uses to describe her design and aesthetics research.”
José Pareja Gómez, Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects and lead developer in the ZHVR Group, said: “Yimeng’s work is a fascinating demonstration of designer control over computational techniques. The intricacy in level of detail, as well as the overall coherence of each piece are mesmerizing. Truly refreshing and innovative work.”
Having earned acclaim on a global scale, Yimeng Yu’s avant-garde works have been featured in top fashion and design magazines and media outlets. The convergence of art and technology underpins her design philosophy, transcending the conventional to introduce a new narrative in the world of fashion.
Under Yimeng Yu’s leadership and innovative vision, CAFA’s fashion programme has become a crucible where creativity converges with technology to launch a new era in fashion. CAFA’s strong foundation for a design education grounded in the contemporary culture of innovation was established by Song Xiewei, Dean of CAFA’s School of Design, and professor Lyu Yue (Aluna), the founder of the fashion programme, making it possible for a young talent like Yimeng Yu to emerge as leader of a new generation of aspiring fashion designers.
VIP launch date: December 7, 2023
Exhibition opens to the public on December 8, 2023
Contact Metrotopia to join a tour at https://metrotopia.io/contact


