CNA Creative Capital Interview

Shirt Number White founder and designer, Shannon Lee speaks to Aun Koh of Channel News Asia about the brand, his process and aspirations.

YOU’VE WORKED ON BOTH WOMENSWEAR AND MENSWEAR. WHY THE FOCUS ON WOMEN’S SHIRTS? WHAT IS THE APPEAL TO YOU?

I’ve always been a very technical designer, so I see garment construction in my mind before anything else. I’ve designed wedding dresses and stage costumes, made leather bags and pouches, but those didn’t allow me to explore new ways of making clothes. 

What left an indelible impression on me was a mood-board picture of a female musician on a stool playing a bass guitar, her crisp, oversized shirt falling just below the nape of her back. The image conveyed how effortlessly chic the shirt was worn, and it became the most romantic visual for me. 

Personally, I feel the shirt is the most versatile piece of garment for a woman to wear because of the various ways it could be styled – even more so than for men.

Truth be told, I’ve worked in menswear for most of my career. During that tenure, I acquired shirt-making and tailoring techniques, and a love for cotton shirting. It has come full circle, allowing me to implement what I’ve learnt with what I love.

Read the original interview here!