# Mental State-Translating Fashion Collections Violet Zhou Explores Different States of Mind By Kalin Ned | Published 2020-08-31 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/explores-different-states References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2020/07/27/risd-graduate-violet-zhou-fashion-collection/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dezeen+%28Dezeenfeed%29) & [violetzhou](https://violetzhou.com/) The 'Within' collection by Violet Zhou—a graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)—explores different [states of mind](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-second-dawn). Described as "[ethereal](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ripples-collection)," the silhouettes of the garments draw on the designer's personal experiences and "emotional turbulences." By giving materiality to her feelings, Zhou is able to transcend them in a certain sense. Since many of the pieces are connected to feelings of anger, numbness, heaviness, and so on, their aesthetic mimics a sense of "confinement." As a result, the silhouettes "[seal their wearer inside the garment](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zhilyova) with an outer layer of fabric." Eventually, as the collection explores different states of being, the final manifestation is one of "'emerging' from the turmoil into a lighter state of mind, where the wearer physically breaks free from the material casing." Image Credit: Dezeen ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.1/10 - Popularity: 76% | Activity: 67% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Mental State-translating Fashion:** Opportunity for designers to explore translating emotions and mental states into wearable form, resulting in a deeper emotional connection between the garment and the wearer. - **Materiality of Emotions:** Opportunity for material science and clothing technology to innovate fabric composition to create textures and forms that can reflect complex emotional states and offer therapeutic benefits. - **Fashion as Expression of Inner States:** Opportunity for using fashion as a way of expressing one's inner emotional states and communicating them more effectively than through words alone. ### Who This Affects Most - **Fashion and Apparel:** Fashion designers can integrate wearable technology, new materials, and textile innovation to create clothes that reflect and respond to the wearer's emotional state. - **Health and Wellness:** Wellness and therapeutic brands can explore the use of fashion and clothing to support mental health and well-being by offering garments that help regulate emotions and reduce stress. - **Technology and Material Science:** Opportunity for material scientists, data analysts, and fashion-tech companies to collaborate on developing groundbreaking clothing materials that can respond to and convey human emotions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Identity-Exploring Clothing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shapes-we-take.md) - [Conceptual Memory-Themed Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paranoid-fw25.md) - [Statement-Making Fall Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auteur-studios-fall-2025.md) - [Politically-Inspired Runway Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selkies-the-libertine-collection.md) - [Chinese Luxury Brand Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zouxin.md) - [Versatile Sculptural Outerwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transhabit-collection.md) - [Futuristic Statement Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-future-is-not-set.md) - [Modern Minimalist Apparel Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auteur-studios-latest-summer-edit.md) - [Tranquil Spring Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/livms-soul-place-series.md)