Merging Fashion, Technology, and Sound Into Wearable Art.
Fashion designer Rakee Chen and music-tech innovator LiberLive presented their groundbreaking “Whispering Garden” collection at New York Fashion Week. Hosted at Runway 7 inside Sony Hall, this unique partnership transcended the traditional show format, offering an immersive, multisensory experience that transformed sound into sight and emotion into wearable art.
The show was a testament to the symbiotic relationship between design and technology. Rakee Chen’s collection, inspired by the surrealist masterpiece “The Son of Man,” was a bold exploration of texture and form. The collection’s looks capture a “wild beauty,” as noted by Bazaar Vietnam, which praised the collection’s ability to tell a visual narrative of strength, wildness, and innovation.
The designs skillfully utilized layering, combining knits, leather, and abstract marbled patterns to create a sense of visual depth. Many of the fabrics were printed with abstract, flowing patterns – a direct visual representation of the music partly created by the LiberLive C1 Stringless Smart Guitar.
Rakee Chen x LiberLive at Sony Hall
Serving as both a musical instrument and an integrated accessory, the LiberLive C1, the world’s first-ever stringless smart guitar, became the visual centerpiece of the show. The opening performer, Detzany, a rising singer-songwriter and producer known for her genre-blending soundscapes, used the C1 to craft a complex, rhythmic, and melodic soundscape that transformed the runway into a living, breathing canvas. This performance perfectly showcased LiberLive’s vision of breaking down barriers in music creation. As the editor at Rolling Stone commented, the C1 is “a technological marvel that’ll transform how you perform.”
The stage itself was a work of art, with shifting projections and architectural arches that echoed the designs. As the live music played, the stage transformed, and the audience witnessed sound come to life in the fluid, abstract visuals on the screens and garments. This powerful connection solidified the brands’ shared vision of breaking down creative boundaries, offering a new perspective on how fashion can interact with other creative disciplines.
The “Whispering Garden” show demonstrated that the future of fashion is not just about clothes but about the complete, enveloping experience. Rakee Chen and LiberLive have set a new standard for creative partnerships, proving that when innovation and artistry collide, the result is a runway show that is truly unforgettable.
About Rakee Chen
Rakee Chen is a fashion designer and digital artist whose work explores the connection between music, storytelling, and clothing. With a background in industrial design and costume design, she combines technical precision with emotional expression to create fashion that responds to rhythm and movement.
About LiberLive
LiberLive is a music technology company dedicated to creating innovative, high-tech musical instruments. Their flagship product, the LiberLive C1, is the world’s first-ever stringless smart guitar, designed to make music creation accessible to all.
Image Credit
Host: Runway 7
Design: Kee Design
Designer: Rakee Chen
Photographer: Madi, TianTian Li
Singer: Detzany
Talents: Sarah Marcos, Casidy Chan, Hannah Rice, Christian Phomsouvanh, Maisie Lay, Abe Eborn, Henry Silva
Background Music Producer: LiberLive, Mc jz, Pumpkin X
Hair & Makeup: Kate Giddings, Book of Beauty
Stylist: Qi Wu, Stephany Landazuri
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