Fab 40: Ying Gao Fashion, Montreal

By Jack Moss
last updated

Fashion designer and university professor Ying Gao decided while she was completing a master’s in Interactive media that she had enough of being told 'designing is pointless.'

'To work in the fashion industry, all you seemed to need to know was how to copy. I pondered a great deal on the role of the fashion designer, and I wanted to do what a designer was supposed to do – to create and innovate,' she says.

Gao has since taken to perfecting a precise yet almost Lilliputian design style through the concept of 'modulatable' clothing, designing pieces that invisibly integrate microelectronic technology with fashion design. Technology is just as much a source of inspiration as Montreal – 'I love this city' muses Gao.

It seems the city feels the same way about her, with the mayor of Montreal having awarded her the Phyllis-Lambert Design Montreal grant earlier this year. Gao’s latest offering is ‘post-vernissage’, a limited edition collection of conceptual garments made with fine materials and featuring the subtle ‘modulatable’ characteristics that are bound to be Gao’s trademark for years to come.

www.post-vernissage.com

The Bombardier Learjet

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The Bombardier Learjet

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Interior of the Bombardier Learjet

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Interior of the Learjet

The Bombardier Learjet

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely, Toronto

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely, Toronto


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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely, Toronto

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely, Toronto

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely, Toronto

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely, Toronto

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Coast restaurant, Vancouver


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Bar area of The Coast restaurant in Vancouver

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dining table set up at the Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Dining Room and bar of the Coast restaurant, Vancouver taken from above

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Dining room at the Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Lounge area of the Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Dining room area of the Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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lounge area of the Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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dining table with shell curtains at the Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Dining room at the Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Dining room at the Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Supernova by Douglas Coupland

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Supernova by Douglas Coupland
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Talking sticks by Douglas Coupland

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Talking sticks by Douglas Coupland

Penguin Pretty Vacant by Douglas Coupland

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Penguin Pretty Vacant by Douglas Coupland

Coyote by Douglas Coupland

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Coyote by Douglas Coupland

Patricide by Douglas Coupland

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Patricide by Douglas Coupland

Penguin Cumshot by Douglas Coupland

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Penguin Cumshot by Douglas Coupland

Penguin Clash by Douglas Coupland

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Penguin Clash by Douglas Coupland

Matricide Silver Skate by Douglas Coupland

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Matricide Silver Skate by Douglas Coupland

Matricide Beer by Douglas Coupland

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Matricide Beer by Douglas Coupland

Drip Maple Syrup

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Drip Maple Syrup

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Drip Maple Syrup

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Form & Forest by D'Arcy Jones Design

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Form & Forest by D'Arcy Jones Design

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Form & Forest by D'Arcy Jones Design

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Form & Forest by D'Arcy Jones Design

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Form & Forest by D'Arcy Jones Design

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Form & Forest by D'Arcy Jones Design

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Form & Forest by D'Arcy Jones Design

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The Keefer Hotel, Vancouver

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The Keefer Hotel, Vancouver

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Bedroom in The Keefer Hotel, Vancouver

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bottles of spirits on a bar shelf at The Keefer Hotel, Vancouver

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sofa and wooden table with large vase in The Keefer Hotel, Vancouver

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Bean bag chair and table by the pool at The Keefer Hotel, Vancouver

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Stack of vintage suitcases against a wall

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Laneway House, Toronto, by Kohn Shnier architects

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Open plan living room, dining room and kitchen at Laneway House, Toronto, by Kohn Shnier architects

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Exterior of Laneway House, Toronto, by Kohn Shnier architects Read the article: Kohn Shnier, Toronto

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Exterior of Laneway House, Toronto, by Kohn Shnier architects Read the article: Kohn Shnier, Toronto at night

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Exterior of Laneway House, Toronto, by Kohn Shnier architects

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Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Exterior of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Interior gym space of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Interior of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Exterior of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design at night

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Exterior of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Exterior of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design at night

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Ice rink of the Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Stairs and ceiling of the Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Exterior of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design at night

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Exterior of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Exterior of Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Territory table and chairs by Samare Design, Montreal

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Territory table and chairs by Samare Design, Montreal

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Territory lounger by Samare design

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Territory lounger by Samare design

Territory desk and chair by Samare design

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Territory desk and chair by Samare design

R-Mountie bench and throw by Samare design

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R-Mountie bench and throw by Samare design

Still House by Level Design, Vancouver

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Still House by Level Design, Vancouver

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Exterior of Still House by Level Design, Vancouver

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exterior of Still House by Level Design, Vancouver

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Interior view to outside at the Still House by Level Design, Vancouver

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto

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Bedroom in the Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto

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Bedroom in Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto

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Exterior of Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto at night

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto

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Exterior of 40R_Laneway House by Süperkul, Toronto at night

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40R_Laneway House by Süperkul, Toronto

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SHIFT Cottage by Süperkul

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The Trans Canada Trail

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The Trans Canada Trail

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The Trans Canada Trail

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WANT luggage

WANT luggage, Montreal

Nylon Haneda by WANT luggage

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Nylon Haneda by WANT luggage

Newberry White by WANT luggage

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Nylon Haneda by WANT luggage

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Dumont black by WANT luggage

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Carl Phare's wooden rollercoaster, designed in 1958, Vancouver

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Carl Phare's wooden rollercoaster, designed in 1958, Vancouver

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Carl Phare's wooden rollercoaster, designed in 1958, Vancouver

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Fashion by Ying Gao

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Fashion by Ying Gao

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Fashion by Ying Gao

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Fashion by Ying Gao

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Jack Moss
Fashion Features Editor

Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*. Having previously held roles at 10, 10 Men and AnOther magazines, he joined the team in 2022. His work has a particular focus on the moments where fashion and style intersect with other creative disciplines – among them art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and profiling the industry’s leading figures and brands. 

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