Tina Aileen is a fashion designer whose work sits at the intersection of structure and play, blending architectural form, origami-like construction, and subtle wit into garments that feel as sculptural as they are wearable. Rooted in precision but brimming with imagination, her designs are bold, intelligent, and unmistakably her own.

Though she originally set out to study architecture, Tina’s path into fashion began with a moment of redirection. Denied access to the science-track required to pursue architecture in Hong Kong’s education system, she instead entered a fashion program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University — a choice that, at first, felt accidental. But as she began building around the body, discovering the expressive potential of fabric, structure, and form, she found in fashion a compelling new architecture of its own.

 

Her background in drawing and an early interest in spatial design still echo in her work today. Tina’s garments often emerge from origami-based experiments, a process of folding, sculpting, and discovering unexpected forms. One of her signature pieces — the “Galaxy Dress” — was born from a moment of frustration and a simple act of cutting into a folded form. The result was a dress with no defined front or back, only a left and a right — a piece that challenged traditional pattern cutting and suggested a new geometry of the body.

Tina's designs are known for their transformability and restraint. She favours a minimal, architectural aesthetic layered with smart surprises: concealed pockets, convertible silhouettes, and garments that can shift shape with the wearer’s needs. Her practice is deeply informed by sustainable thinking — many of her details, such as buttons, are sourced from vintage collections, and she works with upcycled materials wherever possible.

Though her aesthetic is elevated and museum-worthy, Tina’s intention is grounded. Her pieces are made to be worn, even if only on special occasions. She describes her garments affectionately as “babies” — works of care and complexity — and encourages her clients to wear them with joy. “Have fun,” she says. “Feel glamorous. Let the clothes flirt a little, even if you don’t.”

After completing her MA in fashion design at Central Saint Martins in London, Tina established her practice in the UK and now works from her studio in Hammersmith. She splits her time between conceptual design and the day-to-day demands of running an independent fashion label — from production and marketing to pop-ups and client fittings. Her work includes bridalwear as well as ready-to-wear pieces, with plans to grow her team and expand her practice through sustainable product drops and community events.

She is currently preparing a launch party for a new capsule collection — an intimate celebration of slow fashion, designed to connect directly with her audience. Alongside this, she is building a “clothing library,” a curated rental archive that promotes access and longevity over fast consumption.
If Tina’s designs could speak, she imagines they would say:
“Have fun. Be glamorous. Come pick me up.”