Textile design might be Heeyoen Uee's first love, but cooking comes in a very close second. "I can easily spend an entire day watching the food channel," says the 22 year old from Seoul, Korea. "My biggest guilty pleasure is eating non-stop when I work on my collections late at night." Heeyoen draws inspiration from the imperfections in nature, and she uses her own drawings and paintings to design her print patterns. She's been designing ever since she can remember, and says, "even when I was a child, I liked to pick out and draw my own clothes." At RISD, she prefers to design in her room instead of the studio with the rest of her classmates. When she's not locked inside working, you can probably find her at Yuni, her favorite Korean restaurant, or at Juniper in Providence. "They have the best fresh frozen yogurt! I love sweets—I can't live without them."

What inspires you and your designs? My design inspiration often comes from nature. Things that are imperfect, incomplete, empty, awkward, untouched, and natural fascinate me.


What was the starting point for this collection? My collection was about natural disasters, and this started from thinking about the current climate issue.


What's your favorite…
     Meal or food? Any kind of noodle makes me happy!
     Television show? I can spend the whole day watching food channel.
     Fabric to work with? Silk, charmeuse, organza.


What's your biggest guilty pleasure? Eating non-stop while working very late at night.


What's the most complicated thing you've ever made? When I was a freshman, in 3D foundation studio class, I had to make a cardboard chair, only by folding, no cutting or using glue.

   Yes, I have to have music while I'm working,
 "By Your Side" by Sade
 "Moon River" by Audrey Hepburn & Henry Nancini
 "You Belong To Me" by Carla Bruni
 "La Vie En Rose" by Edith Piaf
 "Kate Moss" by Maximilian Hecker

 Which designers do you look up to? List three of your favorites. Is there any one in particular you'd love to work for? Rodarte (Kate and Laura Mulleavy), Rei Kawakubo, and Dries van Noten. I would die to work for any great designer, it's so hard to choose just one!


What's the best thing about being a fashion designer? What's the hardest thing? As a fashion textile designer, the best part is that I can use my drawings and paintings to design my print patterns. The hardest part is discovering my own design process.


How would you describe your personal style? Describe your daily "uniform," and also what we'll never see you wearing. In school, my daily uniform was spandex and a big shirt, but nowadays I enjoy wearing printed blouses with shorts or trousers. I like simple and comfortable outfits, and you would never see me wearing neon colored shirts or really tight tops.

 What is the greatest or proudest moment in your design career so far? Every time I finish my design collections I feel great! And when I got the mail that I was selected as one of the students to be featured in the ELLE anniversary issue!