As part of our Home of Expression campaign, we commissioned 12 inspiring creatives who live, work and play in White City to create unique works that speak to the dynamic energy of the area. Here we sat down with textile designer Sophie Wang to explore the threads and themes that shape her life and practice.

Tasked with creating a garment that responded to the greenery in Television Centre and the surrounding area, textile designer Sophie Wang created a tactile and richly detailed dress defined by the swooping architectural curves and expansive flora that flourishes in West London. Ever inspired by the intersection between the organic and the man-made, her final piece speaks to the duality that defines this pocket of the city.

Sophie spent her formative years in Shanghai’s buzzing cityscape and found her calling at art school, switching majors after discovering her passion in the richly expressive works created by students of textile design. After studying, Sophie worked for esteemed fashion brands in Taiwan before travelling to the UK to set up her studio within HQI, a non-profit organisation that occupies a former BBC social club in White City.

Currently in the process of creating a capsule collection, the designer is working on signature experimental pieces alongside ready-to-wear garments. Looking to expand her practice outside of the fashion world,  Sophie also has a collaboration with a furniture designer in the works, to create a knitted lamp alongside other expressions of her craft.

“The concept was inspired by the harmony and contrast between the man-made and the manicured greenery that define the area around Television Centre.”

What first drew you to White City?

“My studio, HQI is in the area, so I come here all the time to work, and a huge part of my life is based here because of that. Having been in London for a year now, the traditionally ‘hip’ areas for artists are becoming quite congested. I was attracted to the area for its lively atmosphere – the students here help with that – and the fact that White City is more of an up-and-coming area. There’s more space for people starting out to develop their craft. I walk around the area to Shepherd’s Bush Market or Goldhawk Road or to Westfield. Goldhawk Road is great for fabrics: I bought the satin for the base of the dress here. The stalls at Shepherd’s Bush Market are good for picking up thread, stuffing and other construction materials.”

Tell us about HQI and the creative community that exists here.

“HQI is a non-profit that aims to make studio space really accessible. They share the area’s spirit of community, creating a safe space for up-and-coming artists who are all very supportive of one another from across their different disciplines. The founder is a musician so there are sound studios here along with spaces for digital artists and makers. It’s great to be among a variety of creatives in the old BBC building here. It’s a really cool space.”

What inspires your creations?

“I’m definitely inspired by nature. I grew up in Shanghai where there isn’t any, so it’s interesting that it always seeps into my work. The way that textiles sometimes react is similar to the energy of nature – it’s organised but has its own parts that are wilting or breaking away.

“I’m interested in textiles that look very lush. I often use colours that allude to nature, blues and greens, contrasted with more structural elements including grids and sleek surfaces. Together they create a composition that’s both natural and futuristic. I’m always trying to strike a balance between something more organic, wild and free, and something contained and controlled.”

How would you describe your creative practice?

“My process is very spontaneous. There’s a plan of course, but often there are obstacles that need to be overcome and then the plan changes. This piece is a real departure from what I would make even a year ago. It’s dramatic and the project allowed me to work with no limitations which is really fun.”

How did the sense of place shape your piece?

“The concept was inspired by the harmony and contrast between the man-made and the manicured greenery that define the area around Television Centre. It has more of a structural focus than simpler garments, and I wanted to encapsulate the energy of White City in what is a very energetic, maximalist dress.

“I was excited by the project and the freedom of it, to interpret the area as I wished. I started by walking around the area, through the Japanese Gardens and around the former BBC building, capturing inspiration through photographs. I then studied the images for common threads or themes. Here I noticed that from an aerial perspective, the landscape seems simplified into white sweeping curves and circles of green; you can see the shapes of winding pathways reflected in the design’s motifs. From here I wanted to encapsulate the feeling of the entire space in my dress.

“I explored different techniques, creating various swatches with different materials. From there I focused on the motif of the swooping shape and the base with another bigger swooping gesture as a representation of Television Centre and its energy.”

What drives you to create?

“I have the urge to create things with a sense of fantasy and make believe in a world that feels pretty suffocating at times. It’s really easy to get discouraged by the thought that there’s nothing original anymore. But I guess what drives me is the hope that what I can say through my work is that little bit different, however slight that difference may be.”