Every day, what we wear contains us: our bodies, our personalities, our moods, and our energies. Clothes are a benign trap that holds in what we choose not to expose. By concealing what we do not want to show and providing a safe shelter for our inner lives, clothes are the permeable frontier between ourselves and the world around us. This deceptively simple concept of clothing as a second layer of skin is the launching point for the exploratory journey that is “Intimacy is Space”, Pan Jin’s collection.

Pan Jin, a New York-based designer, takes the concept of clothing as a second skin to a new level with her beautiful, often unstructured, pieces that play with the idea of a new sphere: the impenetrable space between the clothes and the body. Pan, who was trained at the prestigious Parsons School of Design, is particularly interested in this ephemeral realm where absolute intimacy becomes trapped.

Intimacy = space

This revolutionary concept and Pan’s exploration of it are nothing short of visionary. “Intimacy is Space” advocates vigour through vulnerability, proving that delicateness need not be overly feminine. Pan’s intricate silhouettes are complex but never aloof. Her pieces maintain the classic details and elements of everyday apparel while, at the same time, breaking the boundaries set by this very apparel. Transparent fabrics and a minimal colour palette of white, black, and red add to Pan’s bold and distinct statement.

We can’t wait to see this innovative designer continue to explore the intrinsic tensions between clothing as a medium of containment as well as one of expression. Pan Jin’s sharp and insightful approach to design is one to watch.

You should also check out Pan’s beautifully curated Instagram feed.