Meet Shen Xu

We were lucky to catch up with Shen Xu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shen, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by staying curious about the world around me. I believe that anything can become a source of inspiration for my work. One of my favorite habits is observing people. I often sit by the window at a café, watching passersby and doing quick sketches. This practice helps me capture moments and ideas that might spark something new.

Another important source of my creativity is my dreams. I have very vivid dreams, and whenever I have an interesting one, I make sure to share it with my friends as soon as I wake up. These dreams are filled with imagination and emotion, and they often influence my work. For example, when I’m designing costumes for theater, I sometimes incorporate details or elements that I’ve seen in my dreams.

By staying curious, observing the world, and embracing the richness of my dreams, I’m able to keep my creativity flowing.

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

My name is Shen Xu, and I am a costume and textile designer. For me, the most fascinating aspect of costume design is that it’s not just about creating beautiful clothing—it’s also about bringing the playwright’s vision of the characters to life. When designing costumes, I consider many factors, such as the character’s age, personality, the time period of the story, and even the actor’s comfort while wearing the outfit. I am someone who loves delving into details, and I thoroughly enjoy the research phase of every project.

So far, I’ve had the opportunity to work on costumes for small-budget films and stage productions. While I haven’t yet participated in a long-term filming project as a lead costume designer, I am eagerly looking forward to that day. It’s an exciting challenge I hope to take on in the future.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

As I’m still early in my career, I can only share from my limited experience so far. I believe that as a costume designer, the most important quality is the ability to deeply understand the script and the director’s vision. Costumes are a crucial part of helping actors embody their characters, and this often requires multiple rounds of adjustments. Additionally, during stage performances, costumes must harmonize with lighting, sound effects, and the actors’ movements, so attention to detail and collaboration are key.

In terms of skills, aside from the foundational knowledge of sewing and garment construction, adaptability is essential. Backstage, unexpected issues can arise at any moment, and the costume team must quickly identify solutions and communicate adjustments to other departments. Efficient and calm communication is absolutely vital during performances.

Lastly, I think all designers must maintain an open-minded attitude toward learning. Every book I’ve read, every sport I’ve tried, and every exhibition I’ve visited could become a source of inspiration or reference for my work. I embrace new knowledge and experiences, even though I learn slowly. Every day, I strive to expand my understanding and grow as a designer.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I would love to collaborate with visionary directors and creative production teams who are passionate about bringing unique stories to life. If you’re interested in working together, feel free to reach out to me at **[email protected]**. I’m excited about the possibility of contributing to innovative projects and creating costumes that enhance the storytelling experience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: shen_xu_nn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shen-xu-nn

Image Credits

Shen Xu