Empowering Emerging Designers Through Innovation
YKK is honored to collaborate with rising fashion designers who are exploring bold ideas and innovative techniques. This blog features one such designer whose senior collection incorporates YKK® zippers as both functional and expressive elements in her storytelling.
DISSOCIATION: Beyond the Cage
Nicole Pan, a recent graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a major in Fashion Design, is already making waves with her bold and emotionally charged senior collection, DISSOCIATION: Beyond the Cage. With a background in fine art, Nicole approaches fashion not just as clothing, but as a medium for storytelling-where every stitch and silhouette carry meaning.
“I see fashion as a way to tell visual stories,” Nicole shares. “Design is not just about clothing, but about feelings, structure, and storytelling.”
Her collection dives deep into the emotional tension between protection and limitation. Inspired by personal experiences of emotional withdrawal and growth, Nicole explores how the things that shield us-like a cage or cocoon-can also hold us back.
“Like a cage or a cocoon-it can keep you safe, but also stop you from growing.”
Through contrasting elements like rigid vs. fluid and dark vs. light, she brings this internal struggle to life. A key feature of her designs is the use of YKK® zippers, which play both a functional and symbolic role.
“Some garments can open, tighten, or transform depending on how the zipper is used,” Nicole says. “It’s like showing how people can feel trapped or find a way to break free.”
Nicle’s technical creativity shines through in her ability to integrate zippers into complex materials like thick leather and delicate acetate. Despite challenges-like mastering invisible zippers-she persevered through experimentation, practice, and guidance from her professors.
“Invisible zippers were a challenge for me,” Nicole admits. “I made lots of samples, practiced different techniques, and asked my professors for advice.”
Her partnership with YKK® not only supported her technical execution but also empowered her creative vision.
“YKK® zippers helped me build structure and movement in the garments,” Nicole says. “They are strong, smooth, and work well with both thick and delicate fabrics.” She described them as high quality and easy to work with, adding that she could truly trust them to perform across a range of materials. “They allowed me to create designs that change shape, or feel like they are in transition.”
Nicole’s work is a bold blend of emotion, innovation, and storytelling-reflecting a designer who’s not only shaping garments, but also shaping the future of fashion.
Check out Nicole’s full collection on Instagram: @sianglin_design
Photo credit: Alita Swanson, @alitaswanson
