Profile: YEN HSIN YEH – Real Leather Design Competitions

YEN HSIN YEH

Shih Chien University

Hello, my name is Yen Hsin Yeh, and I am from Shih Chien University in Taiwan. I have been studying fashion and garment-related fields since high school, and throughout this journey, my passion for fashion has continuously grown stronger. To me, fashion is not only about appearance, but also a powerful medium to express ideas, emotions, and personal values. I have always been drawn to the idea that imperfection can also be a form of beauty. Instead of hiding flaws, I believe we can highlight them and embrace them as part of our true identity. This belief is reflected in my design concept, “The Light Within the Crack.” In my work, cracks are not something to be repaired or concealed. Instead, I choose to emphasize them and transform them by adding light, allowing them to become a unique and meaningful aesthetic. At the same time, I deeply care about sustainability and environmental issues. I hope to contribute to reducing waste and promoting recycling through my designs, creating fashion that is not only visually appealing but also responsible and thoughtful toward our planet. Through this competition, I hope to broaden my perspective, gain valuable experience, and continue learning from different designers. I believe this opportunity will help me grow and further develop my own design language in the future. Thank you.

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The Light Within the Crack (裂縫裡的光)

Category: Apparel

Competitions: Taiwan Region

English Version (Revised) The Light Within the Crack is a conceptual fashion design inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi, a traditional technique in which broken ceramics are repaired with gold, transforming damage into a visible and meaningful part of an object’s history. This project extends that philosophy into the field of fashion by reinterpreting discarded and cracked leather materials as carriers of memory, transformation, and renewed value rather than waste. The design explores the emotional and visual contrast between darkness and light through the use of black and silver-white leather panels. These opposing tones are not meant to conflict, but to coexist, representing the duality of destruction and rebirth. Cracked textures are intentionally preserved and emphasized, while reconstructed surfaces suggest a continuous process of repair and evolution. Golden stitching and metallic detailing trace along the fractures, symbolizing “healing” as an act of enhancement rather than concealment. Structural elements such as lace-up systems, layered patchworks, and fragmented panel construction are integrated to communicate tension and restoration. These techniques evoke the feeling of binding broken parts together, forming a stronger and more intentional whole. The imperfections are not erased; instead, they become the focal point of the design narrative, reinforcing the idea that fragility can coexist with strength. Ultimately, this work reflects a sustainable and philosophical approach to fashion design. It challenges the conventional perception of damage as something negative and instead reframes it as the beginning of transformation. Through this lens, imperfection becomes a visual language of resilience, memory, and rebirth, where every crack allows light to enter and redefine beauty.