NEW YORK, Sep 5, 2007/ FW/ – Opting for an installation this season instead of a catwalk show, husband and wife design team Han-hee Yoon and Jin-young Kang was inspired by the 1960s hippie movement, translating the ideas of rebellion, love, peace and freedom into modern urban pieces that are elegant yet avant-garde

Though the two adjectives elegant and avant-garde are not usually used in conjunction with each other when describing a collection, Y&Kei unique vision of fashion wherein they are able to converge two disparate elements that results to a distinctive new look, elegance and avant-garde became the ties that bound the collection.

A white cotton shirt with embroidered silk chiffon fringed shawl matched with white cotton short was presented side by side with gold lamé jacket matched with a black hand-woven silk organza long skirt would have looked jarring when done by a designer with tentative hands.

But, Y&Kei’s masterful execution and mastery of tailoring techniques and cut, the two looks actually made sense to be part of one whole collection.

Speaking of Y&Kei’s mastery of their signature look and exercising a sure hand in cutting, draping and layering is only half of the story. The other half is the attention to details that is truly impeccable.

Using couture elements in the collection, the embroidery and layering, the draping and use of appliqués on the collection made the pieces a young and hip interpretation of haute couture, something that young heiresses and royalty would actually look forward wearing in the less formal balls and parties that are not state dinners.

When asked if they had plans of going to Paris and applying to be part of the Chambre Syndicale’s official haute couture calendar, Han-hee Yoon and Jin-young Kang said, ‘We have not thought of it yet. But, who knows what the future holds.’