Tunggiya
/Show Day
DAY3, OCT 17
/Social Media
Tong Hao Lin, the creative force behind emerging label tunggiya, transforms discarded textile scraps into singular handcrafted garments that challenge conventional notions of masculinity and making. Originally from Jilin, China, and drawing from his Manchu heritage, Hao Lin's path from artist management to fashion design was sparked by late-night experiments with fabric remnants and an urgent need to express his own creative vision. His grandmother's resourceful sewing, knitting with recycled yarns, instilled in him the belief that constraint breeds magic, a philosophy that now defines his practice of spinning waste materials into "Reclaimed Yarn." For Hao Lin, tunggiya represents both personal reclamation: the brand name honours his family's original Manchu identity and a broader reimagining of fashion as tender, vulnerable, and alive.
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What inspired you to become a fashion designer?
My grandmother used to make sweaters for me, and I loved watching her knit. My experiences with artists and designers, followed by studying fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University, eventually guided me toward fashion design and visual storytelling.
How would you describe your design style?
I see myself more as a creative director and visual storyteller than simply a designer. Fashion is one of the main tools I use to communicate my vision, alongside photography, filmmaking, and visual design.
What can people expect from your “Persephone’s Last Canvas” collection?
The collection draws inspiration from the transition between summer and fall and the Greek myth of Persephone. Colours, materials, and textures intertwine her story with seasonal change, moving through green, gold, brown, yellow, and red.
How do yarn, boning, and sheer fabrics express the collection’s connection to nature?
Yarns and boning symbolize trees and branches, while sheer fabrics represent leaves and flowers. These material choices help translate the story of Persephone and the transition from summer into fall into physical forms.
How does colour shape your design process?
Colour is a key part of my design process and one of the first things audiences notice. I choose colours early and make sure the palette supports the theme and creates the right first impression.