Meet Jiahang Wei

We were lucky to catch up with Jiahang Wei recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jiahang, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

I believe my self-discipline was shaped early on by the circumstances of my upbringing. I was born in a middle-class family in Beijing — my parents came from rural backgrounds and worked hard to change the course of their lives. When they sent me to an international school at a young age, it quietly set the expectation that I would study abroad. But because they didn’t have the same educational experience themselves, I had to figure out most things on my own. Their parenting style was relatively hands-off, which meant I had to rely on myself — especially in unfamiliar academic or cultural situations.

I still remember the first time I had to give a presentation in English. At the time, I barely understood what was being said around me, and most days I was pretending to follow along. The idea of speaking in front of the class, in a language I wasn’t comfortable with, terrified me. I even tried taking cold showers the night before just to “get sick” and escape it — but of course, I couldn’t. That moment made me realize: when something is inevitable, no amount of avoidance can save you — the only way is through.

Years later, when I was working on my thesis, that lesson turned into a daily practice of self-discipline. Creating a final collection within a year required me to plan meticulously and commit long hours to experimentation. I spent weeks testing textile techniques just to arrive at the right expression. In the final stages, I was also managing a photoshoot team, directing the concept, building my portfolio, and preparing for the runway presentation — all at once. There was no shortcut. Every hour counted.

That experience taught me the value of time, and more importantly, that I’m capable of doing much more than I thought — as long as I’m willing to try. If something doesn’t work the first time, I try again. Self-discipline, for me, is no longer about being “strict” with myself. It’s about staying aligned with what I care about, and having the courage to keep showing up — especially when things feel overwhelming.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a recent graduate fashion and textile designer based in New York. I earned my BFA from Parsons School of Design in May 2025, where I specialized in womenswear and built a practice rooted in material storytelling. My creative journey has always been shaped by touch—by a fascination with the physicality of fabric and the emotional resonance it can carry.

What excites me most is textile. I see fabric as the first point of contact between the body and the world. It’s such an ordinary material—we are born in fabric, live in it, and eventually die in it. And yet, it holds so much possibility. Through dyeing, heat-pressing, and handcrafted techniques, I love transforming its surface to create texture, distortion, and intimacy. For me, craft is not a nostalgic concept—it’s a language. I’m interested in how it can be both personal and expressive, and how that can live in contemporary design.

At the heart of my work is the desire to express something quietly internal. A recurring theme in my collections is the idea of “that girl.” Growing up, I always wanted to be that girl—the one who stays composed, handles every situation with grace. But I’ve never really been that way. I sweat easily, get flustered, rush into things. Somewhere along the way I realized: maybe I can’t become her, but I can build her into my work. In a way, she lives through my silhouettes, my textiles, and the moods they create.

Outside of fashion, I’m also exploring adjacent disciplines like 3D modeling and digital surface design. I’m currently looking for opportunities where I can bring this cross-disciplinary curiosity into a creative team—somewhere that values tactile thinking, conceptual development, and emotional visual language.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The first was learning how not to overthink—just start.
I used to spend so much time trapped in my own head, chasing abstract ideas or waiting for the perfect concept to arrive. And while imagination is a great source of inspiration, real design work comes from doing—not thinking. What helped me most was staying curious, working with my hands, and letting ideas evolve through trial and error. My advice: don’t wait until something feels “ready.” Just begin. Let the work teach you where to go next.

The second was collaboration.
In school, it’s easy to feel like every project is yours alone. But once you step into the real world, you realize that any meaningful work requires a team. From photographers to stylists to creative directors, every project I’ve done has involved communicating across disciplines. Collaboration isn’t just about working together—it’s about building trust, listening, and sharing ownership. Practice that early.

The third was time management and planning.
Whether it’s a year-long thesis or a 2-week concept shoot, you need structure to carry a project from start to finish—especially when surprises hit. Fashion is a fast-paced world, and having a clear timeline (with room for adjustments) helped me stay grounded and move forward steadily. I’d recommend learning to work backwards from deadlines, and to break big ideas into small, achievable steps.

At the end of the day, these skills aren’t innate—they’re built, project by project. Be patient with yourself. The growth happens while you’re doing the work.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Right now, the biggest challenge I’m facing is navigating a career transition. I studied fashion design, but I’ve always been curious about many creative fields—and during my thesis, I realized that what I enjoyed most wasn’t just making garments, but building the entire visual and narrative world around them. As I worked on directing my lookbook shoot and developing concept decks, I became deeply interested in creative direction and branding—the kind of work that helps shape how people emotionally connect with a brand or idea.

The challenge is that breaking into these roles often requires specific job experience or a portfolio tailored to the field, which I’m still building. I’ve been applying to a lot of entry-level jobs, hoping to find opportunities where my background in design and storytelling can translate. Even though I come from fashion, the core of what I’ve learned—how to craft a narrative, how to translate mood into form, how to communicate visually—feels deeply transferable.

I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’m taking action: revising my portfolio, learning to reframe my experience, and exploring creative communities outside of fashion. I think transitions always feel uncertain, but they’re also full of possibility—and I’m learning to be okay with that in-between space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bec0411.com
• Instagram: miyanosakurako
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiahang-wei-4855962a2/

Image Credits

Photo 2-5
Photographer: Cherry Chai
Model: Sydney White
MUA Artist: Bella Wu

Photo 6-8
Photographer: Jiahang Wei (myself)
Model: Keming Chang