Profile: Yian Zhan – Real Leather Design Competitions

Yian Zhan

Shih Chien University

My name is Yian Zhan Yian,and I am currently a student in the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Shih Chien University. From a young age, I have been passionate about sports. I played on my school’s basketball and baseball teams, where I learned the importance of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. I also studied music and various instruments, which cultivated my sensitivity to detail and rhythm. In high school, I majored in social studies at a regular senior high school. Although I was deeply interested in humanities and social issues, my passion for fashion and styling never faded. To challenge myself and transform my interest into a profession, I decisively chose to pursue fashion design, hoping to convert my experiences in sports, music, and life into a wearable visual language. During my university years, I actively participated in various design competitions. I received an Honorable Mention in the Yunlin County Agricultural Waste Material Resource Utilization and Circular Economy Promotion Plan Fashion Design Competition, and I also took part in the Eclat Functional Clothing Design Competition. These experiences deepened my understanding of sustainable design and strengthened my ability to transform concepts into tangible works. I believe that design is more than just external form — it is the extension of inner stories and emotions. Whether it is the sweat on the sports field, the rhythm of music, or the warmth of being supported in life, I hope to convey strength and resonance to wearers through the tactile quality of leather, genuine craftsmanship, and conceptually rich structures. In the future, I aspire to continue exploring experimental leather design and sustainable fashion, creating works that combine storytelling with wearability.

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RE : GLOVE

Category: Footwear

Competitions: Taiwan Region

The core concept of Re:Glove is built upon the idea of “Re-” — to reshape, redefine, and carry meaning forward. This design draws inspiration from two pitcher’s gloves given to me by my family and friends. I transformed their support into a wearable form through the enduring and inheritable nature of real leather, hoping this strength can continue to be passed on to every wearer. I wanted to express through leather the weathered yet resilient vitality of a glove that has endured countless innings. This is not merely a pair of shoes, but a piece of art that carries the spirit of baseball. I preserved the most soulful characteristics of the pitcher’s glove: Palm Concavity, Twisted Finger Slots, and Flowing Mesh Webbing. Through distortion and reconstruction, these elements wrap around the foot with sculptural tension, as if the glove is still tightly protecting its wearer, offering both physical and emotional support. The high-top structure is formed by integrating the glove’s body with flowing straps, breaking away from conventional shoe silhouettes and creating a unique fusion of protection and speed. The modular detachable cleat system serves as the core metaphor: when the spikes are attached, the shoes are ready to return to the field and fight once more; when removed, they return to everyday life, accompanying the wearer to stay grounded and take steady steps forward. Re:Glove is not just a shoe — it is a wearable artwork that carries memory, resilience, and the timeless spirit of the game.