Baby carriers double as skirts and handbags in this collection of functional workwear for mothers from London College of Fashion graduate Siyuan Liu.
Infinity Women is Liu’s final project from her undergraduate degree in womenswear design and comprises three outfits that aim to increase the visibility and appreciation of mothers in the workplace.
Based between London and the Chinese city of Ningbo, where she was raised, the designer set out to transform traditional workplace uniforms for female workers with children.
“My mother used to work in a garment factory,” Liu told Dezeen. “I usually stayed at her workplace after school and would play in the factory when I was a child.”
“I went back to the factory for an internship and saw the female workers and their children,” she added. “I could really feel the anxiety my mother used to have when she was busy and couldn’t see me.”
“I think if a mother could see her child when she works, it would help her to focus on work rather than worrying about her child all the time.”
Drawing from her personal experience, Liu aimed to design an inclusive workwear collection that would fit women in different stages of motherhood – “pregnancy, post-maternity and mothers back at work”.
Before creating the three-dimensional outfits on a mannequin, her initial designs were informed by identifying body shapes through analysing personal photographs.
The final pieces are made entirely from deadstock fabrics and trimmings, with clever fasteners that allow them to be worn in multiple different ways.
“The zippers, elastane, ribs and snap buttons change the function of the garments to be used widely,” Liu said.
The first outfit, Dream Lover, is a pastel-coloured two-piece constructed from jersey and cotton.
According to the designer, the garment is “transferable and moveable” with removable sleeves that can be attached and detached using snap buttons.
Along with chunky ankle boots, accessories include a white hat “inspired by baby hats” and a handbag that also functions as a baby carrier. Milk bottles were also repurposed as functional bags that can be attached and detached from the garment.
“When I looked for objects representative of the relationship between a baby and its mother, baby carriers and milk bottles became my choices,” said Liu. “They are used by babies and are also necessary for new mothers.”
“I thought it would be useful if the bottle could hold items and a baby carrier could become a piece of everyday wear as bags and skirts, or aprons, either during pregnancy or post-maternity.”
The second outfit, Life Strength, features a more muted colour palette and is made from loopback cotton and mesh.
To ensure comfort for both baby and mother, the clothing was designed to be “skin-friendly, breathable and made from natural fibres”, Liu explained.
Hoodie, sweatshirt and trouser elements informed by women’s loungewear allow the outfit to adapt to changing weather conditions.
Interdependence, the third outfit, references maternity jumpsuits and nightwear with the inclusion of another baby carrier, designed to be worn over trousers like a skirt or apron when not in use.
“Baby carriers are the core transformative element of the collection,” Liu said.
The outfit is made from soft cotton and displays bright pastel colouring to appeal to both children and mothers.
Infinity Women is one of several collections from London College of Fashion graduates to be featured on Dezeen.
Others include Hari’s viral blow-up latex trousers and adaptive clothing by Monika Duga with graphic prints designed to ease Parkinson’s disease.
The photography is by Bing Geng.
