Shelli Oh: The Resonance Collection

Shelli Oh expands on the emotional experience behind her latest collection.

By Emma Glascock and Tess Pawliw

(Cloud Petal Cape FAT/Fashion Magazine)

This past month, the runways of Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) showcased the collections of many talented Canadian designers. Designer Shelli Oh, demonstrated how her latest collection is not only beautiful garments, but also an experience. Oh, an Indonesian-Canadian luxury designer, for high-end mens and womenswear, showcased her latest couture collection, Resonance, at the Triple Threat runway show. 

Where It Began

Oh always had the dream to pursue a creative career. As a compromise to her traditionally minded parents, Oh decided to attend school for architecture. Her schooling allowed the opportunity for Oh to visit New York City and explore the major creative capital. After this trip, Oh’s professors pushed her to pursue her talents within the fashion industry. In an interview with Susan Langdon, a past teacher and mentor, she said, “I first met Shelli when she was a first-year student at TMU, enrolled in my introductory sewing class. Even then, she stood out with her strikingly original designs—a shirt and skirt that were anything but typical. Her work reflected a strong, distinctive point of view, rare for someone so early in their studies.” 

Shelli Oh - The Label

Now, out of school, Oh moved to New York and gained valuable experience, such as designing for Betsy Johnson.When returning back to Toronto to work on her own line, Shelli Oh, she also joined the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s in-house Resident program. 

Shelli Oh Pictured (Mondo Lulu/Fashion Forward Toronto)

“What I like about fashion, when compared to architecture, it's a skill that you can create things for yourself, you can't design a building for yourself but you can create a crazy dress.” 

Getting her brand off of the ground was difficult. At the beginning, when living in New York City, she lived with a few of her brother's friends. The men all worked in finance and were fairly well off. One noticed the passion and drive she had for her work, and offered to run the business side of the brand. After the business was up and running, Oh decided to bring the brand back to Toronto. After a few years, Oh realized that these men would never be able to understand the historical ins and outs of the fashion industry. She thereby decided to buy her brand back from the shareholders, reclaiming her control of the label     

(Shelli Oh Logo/shellioh.com)

Oh designs garments that tell a story through tactile landscapes, “Instead of just wearing the clothing, I want it to be a wearable experience,” Oh says. Elaborating, “the most common question people ask me is to touch the clothing, and I always say absolutely; touch it, try it on, see how it makes you feel…Shelli Oh is a line that is meant to deliver a certain joy and whimsy.”

The Resonance Collection 

Her most recent collection, Resonance, is the most texture-heavy collection she has designed thus far. Expanding on the experiences told through different mediums, using 3D printing and organza. The inspiration behind Resonance is that you feel one with the garment. Unlike earlier pieces, this collection explores the process of involving 3D printing within the designs. Oh’s most popular piece, the Cloud Petal Dress, consists of hundreds of blush-pink organza, each trimmed in black, and sewn in sequence of one and other to create wave-like texture. Oh says, “the softness of the pale pink, and the harshness of the black trim creates a beautiful contrast, drawing the eye to the movement of the piece,”.

(Hillary LeBlanc wearing the Cloud Petal Dress/Instagram)

The Cloud Petal Cape, Oh’s personal favorite, exudes a sense of warmth and confidence; this being why she loves the piece so much. After wearing it to many events, she explains that it felt right. Additionally, it is Oh’s favorite because it is unisex, it is so versatile for anyone to express themselves. “The way it surrounds you, you feel enveloped by it.” she says. Continuing by saying, “I could just bury myself in it.”

What makes this collection different from the others Oh says, is the technology incorporated, as well as the increase of abstract designs in her work. Oh concludes by saying that her collections at the end of the day “are about creating an experience that you'll never forget.” After experiencing the pieces on the runway at Fashion Art Toronto, we couldn’t agree more with that.