Maria Chen-Pascual

[Scott]

Biography
Maria Chen Pascual (neé Chen) is a London based designer with her own label. Brought up in the United States, she was trained at Parson's College in New York City, where she was awarded the Hermés menswear design scholarship. She moved to London to take an MA at Central St Martin's, and continued her education on taking a research degree at the Royal College of Art in 1998. Chen Pascual is best known for her original fabric techniques and conceptual cutting. She has had design commissions from Thomas Goode for a platinum tableware collection, and from Topshop for a range of clothing.

Here's her earliest collections.

A/W 2000-Unfortunately,these aren't even the best of that collection. There was some amazing pieces in this.

Maria Chen's autumn 2000 collection had no name, but 'After Dark' would have suited. Her pretty goths and gothettes wear black wool, black leather, black devore and black satin. If they're feeling more cheery they put on deepest purple suede, lilac chiffon polka dots or fleshy pink leather. The silhouette for gothettes was long and clingy, ripped and shredded - knitted tube dresses with trailing sleeves, calf length jagged hem skirts trailing frilly tails, hobble skirts with cut outs at the rear, revealing lilac chiffon inserts. Their sheer halter necks and long sleeve peasant-style blouses have ruched detailing. For goths, black trousers have ties at the knee to bind the lower leg and leather waistcoats have forest prints, in white, with drawsting hoods to hide faces. Lilac polo necks have Icelandic-knit latex prints on the front. Floppy frills - snakeskin, felt, chiffon - placed over shoulders are another theme. For girls these were attached to sweaters, dresses and coats, for boys they were minaturised on long coats.

 

[Scott]

S/s 2001

 

[Scott]

More A/W 01...

 

[Scott]

A/w 2001

Not as strong as the previous two,I think. But there were some interesting things here.

 

[softgrey]

...wow...in her bio...it looks like she's been in school for at least 8years ..!!!
that's pretty amusing considering how many kids today don't even know how to sew or draw but think they are going to be huge designers...

here's the total opposite end of the spectrum...seems like she was almost reluctant to start designing....

scott...is she still showing?...i remember the name but can't recall having seen anything of late...

thanks for the thread and background info...
i always love a little bio or history...

from these pictures it seems like her work has as many weaknesses as it has strengths...very hit or miss for me...

 

[jhaime]

I think she should have stuck with school...:|

 

[Spacemiu]

I love her
She does really cool things


Spring 2004

 

[brian]

her f/w 2001 collection is so great ...

 

[Scott]

You are sooo right Softie! As much as I enjoy some of the stuff she's done,there are indeed alot of hit and misses. And as far as her schooling,apparently she chose fashion out of everything because wanted to be different...take a different path. Plus,clothing beingg such a powerful dynamic for self-expression she thought it would be perfect.

As far as presentation,I don't think showed the last two seasons. Unless they were showroom presentations.

 

[Scott]

I liked that collection,Space. Menswear verging a bit in Demeulemeester territory however....I much prefer the women's.

You know what,I just noticed in my third post that I put A/W....actually it was the rest of S/S 01. Sorry if I might have confused...

 

[cerfas]

I like the aw 00 leather hoodie! Some interesting stuff here. Thank you, Scott

 

[ingenue]

wow not bad,.