TING-CHI HSU

“Bookworm” was inspired by a family trip to Japan. On a train, I noticed that almost everyone around me was looking down at a book. The scene left a strong impression on me and sparked the thought: “Reading is cool.”

In conventional perception, the word “bookworm” often evokes an image of someone dull and introverted, disconnected from their surroundings and immersed solely in their own world. Yet reading allows us to travel through countless different paths of life simply through words. To me, it is one of the most profound ways of understanding the world.

Mixing and matching is at the core of this collection. The garments feature loose, street-inspired silhouettes with dropped shoulders, combining fabrics with contrasting patterns and colors. At the same time, the collection retains classic elements traditionally associated with the stereotypical “nerd”—large-scale checks, thick-rimmed glasses appearing throughout the collection, and deliberately unexpected combinations. As an essential object for any bookworm, books are also translated into the garments through page-inspired prints and tuck pleats that mimic the appearance of book pages.

Through “Bookworm,” I hope to overturn the conventional stereotype and reveal what a bookworm looks like through my eyes.