Sienna Bentley
For bite mag, the London autumn/winter 2025 season was kicked off by none other than INF – a brand built on the philosophy of creating garments that adapt and transform.
This season, INF has deconstructed and reshaped culture, responding to fashion with the concept of sustainability. The raven is no longer merely a symbol in mythology, but has become a contemporary cultural icon.
I was very fortunate to sit down with the person behind it all – Kuo Wei – to pick his brain about translating these complex concepts into fashion, as well as challenges faced in the creation of the collection and for emerging designers worldwide.
What inspired you to pursue a career in fashion, and what advice would you give to others considering a similar path?
I have liked decorating things since my childhood – including myself and others. As the years went on, I became more and more obsessed with the idea of creating my own designs, as I believe that designing can send out confidence and positive vibes into the world.
To others considering a similar path, you need to understand that designers are not artists. Designers do things based on business, learn and understand the market and create a plan based on it. The most dangerous thing is to design by instinct and just wait for sales while doing nothing.
Along the same vein, what are the main barriers for smaller designers to break into the field, and what could the industry be doing to help them?
It’s really hard for emerging designers to show their uniqueness and approach the main market at the same time. The more uniqueness that one possesses, the further away one is from the main market, which leads to a survival situation in terms of finances. I think it would be helpful if there was more press like you to give more opportunities for emerging designers through exposure. Let the world see that there’s plenty of beautiful designs besides the mainstream. So thank you, bite magazine!
The raven is a symbol of mystery and is often associated with darkness. What drew you to challenge these perceptions and make the raven the focal point of your collection?
I’m a person who runs on stories. I like to dive into all kinds of legends behind every culture. Although the raven symbolises mystery and darkness, when I looked into the many legends behind it, I found that it is actually the opposite.
There’s one particular story that attracts me the most. In Ru-Kai (a Taiwanese aboriginal people) legend, the parent of siblings dies while hunting, leaving them to survive on their own. A raven pities them, so it turns itself into an elder to take care of them until they had safely grown up.
What were the biggest challenges you faced while creating this collection, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was the structure of the garments, as INF is known for its avant-garde structure. It’s another-level stuff, bringing the sketches to life. In particular, we wanted to keep the possibility of transforming. The only way to overcome these challenges is through thousands of failures but to keep trying. Nothing fancy, just one man devoting all of the passion that he has.
We’ve seen a lot of ‘office-siren’-inspired pieces this season. How much of that do you think is a commentary on or a reflection of the current economic climate, and how much (if at all) did this concept influence your own designs?
I think the trend of the office siren reflects a balance of the masculine and feminine in women. I’m down with this perspective as INF is always trying to show these two sides in our collections.
Further, the idea of putting two contrasting materials on one platform has always fascinated me. Just like our transforming garments, it is not only giving the possibility of switching up the silhouette but last longer for the wearer to reduce fashion waste.
How do you navigate and combat creative block?
I would say that for me, a nice and quiet solo trip is the best way to reset. Don’t make any plans, just point at a random place on the map and go. During the trip, just turn left whenever you like and stop for a night wherever that leads you. Stop and enjoy everything on the path. Interact with the people and nature until you feel recharged.
