DALLAS, May 20, 2007/ FW/ --- What is it about comic books that always draw our attention? In the NBC hit show, ‘Heroes’ all the lead characters found each other in a comic book that could tell the future. In Paris, Thierry Mugler creative director Thomas Engelhard’s muses are the caped crusaders. And at AAU, MFA Fashion & Knitwear graduate Yu-Shin ‘Mue’ Kim also gravitated towards comic books superheroes.

In a high concept collection for her graduation fashion show, Mue Kim drew inspiration from the sculptures of Tony Cragg, the knitwear craft art of Mark Newport, wardrobes of comic-book heroes, and the performance costumes of Leigh Bowery.

The result, a ‘home craft’ look for ‘I, Robot’ that is charmingly unique that actually has commercial potential.

Like the 1950s ‘robots’ accessory of Miuccia Prada that became a craze among the fashionistas when it hit store shelves, Mue Kim’s vision has an ‘arts & crafts’ appeal that has a prospect of going mainstream.

Usually ‘high-tech’ is shiny and sleek, but with knitwear, the futuristic feel was softened. Another important thing to note is the way Kim ‘sculpted’ the sweater dress. Innovative in its own right, it is also a masterful execution of a technique in couture.

Again, this technique was seen on the Milanese catwalks during the Fall 2007 fashion season, and Kim’s execution is at par with the more experienced fashion designers.

As for commercial viability, just take out the oversized masks and voila, you actually have a wearable collection that can go from the runway to the showroom.

Yu-Shin ‘Mue’ Kim

Yu-Shin ‘Mue’ Kim

Yu-Shin ‘Mue’ Kim

Yu-Shin ‘Mue’ Kim