Fei Li: on Fashion, Identity & Building Feithesis
Photo: Zane Qureshi
Tell me your name, age and a little bit about yourself!
My name is Fei! Full name is Jingfei Li. I am 19 years old. I was born and raised in China, moved to Melbourne, moved to South Korea and then to Adelaide. I am now studying in the United Kingdom, pursuing fashion.
How and when did you first get into fashion?
Probably when I was very very little. I, just like all the other kids, was like “Oh I want to be a fashion designer”. This is a very Asian thing but my grandma had this metal cookie tin that had all of her sewing equipment inside and I would fish through it and sew things onto my clothes. The first thing I remember making a red heart I sewed into my shirt.
Did you study any creative subjects throughout high school?
I did IB High-Level Arts. That was an absolute pain. I never want to do that ever again. But it was good because I got a lot of creative freedom.
How would you describe your particular fashion style?
At the moment, it is very much a mix of feminine and masculine styles. I love the skirt and pants combo, I have been wearing it so much. I have been getting more into formal attire too lately.
Over the last two years or so you have launched your own fashion label titled Feithesis. What is the purpose behind it?
I named it Feithesis because I am a very indecisive person and it’s hard for me to stick to one thing and I didn’t want my brand to become that. I want to design whatever I want, whenever I want so I named it Feithesis because it’s my thesis.
In your opinion, what is the future of fashion?
This is hard because I feel like fashion is a very cyclical matter. Trends skip the cycles a lot. I think everything that gets recycled becomes a better version than it was before. But right now, with technology and all, Cyber style is becoming popular. I think that is going to get old, and then people will want to get back into the literal construction of garments.
Now previously we spoke to you back in early 2022, when you were part of the fashion collective Odyssey. Would you say you have grown your art and fashion style since then?
Oh definitely!! I think that was when I was experimenting the most. That’s when I really got into sewing my one stuff.
Now this magazine is titled Nostalgia. What is your favourite or most nostalgic memory?
Ooh, I hope no kids read this part. But when I was little like 8 or 9 I knew that my parents were my Santa Claus. So on Christmas Eve my friend and I stayed up all night and waited until our parents were asleep so we could be their Santa and we packed little presents and wrote from Santa, so that way the next morning they could wake up to presents. That’s a really fun memory of mine.
Would you say that your family and friends have supported your aspirations in pursuing a creative career?
I think my family and friends are my biggest fans! Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am. Yes, I guess the mass matters but one person saying “omg I love your work” is really what motivates me the most.
Do you have a favourite piece you’ve made? I feel like you’ve grown a lot because the first piece I saw from you was a pair of brown pants with a little embroidery on the back, which we featured in issue 002.
Ooh, my favourite piece right now is the manipulation skirt I just made because that was a proper experiment. I went in and made the fabric myself.
Do you take any influence from your culture and heritage when you approach projects?
Yes definitely! I think even when I try not to, I end up doing so anyway because when we make things we reflect upon ourselves. My heritage is part of me so it is very hard not to bring that into my work.
Who inspires Faye?
My experiences inspire me!
What is one thing you would say to creatives who look up to you and may want to pursue a career similar to yours?
PEOPLE LOOK UP TO ME!? Honestly, my advice is just to do it! I am a very big perfectionist, and I don’t like to do things unless they are perfect, but that is so lame. How are you going to do things you don’t at least try? Just go for it or do it. Who cares if no one likes it?
What can people expect to see from Faye in the next few months?
Well, I will be at university in England, so I will be making lots of cool pieces and artwork.
