SHERTIENNE: Writing Your Own Poetry, One Fin At A Time

For SHERTIENNE, fashion isn’t just wearable—it’s narrative. The brand’s motto, “The poetry is yours to write,” is as much a message to her audience as it is a reflection of her identity. Drawing from her Malaysian-Chinese heritage, the name itself encodes meaning: “Sher” from 诗 (poem) and “Tienne” from 恬 (tranquil), loosely translating to “your tranquil poetry.”

Each collection becomes an invitation to interpret, to play, and to claim ownership over both garment and self. “Every decision I make, every stitch, every material is guided by what feels right to me,” she says. “It’s not about proving I’m different—it’s about showing that you can make choices that shape your path, even when it seems impossible.”

Mermaiding: Sport, Art, and Story

The centerpiece of SHERTIENNE’s latest collection, Clouded Allure, emerges from a discipline rarely spotlighted: mermaiding. Introduced to the sport at 18 by her mother, she pursued a professional ocean license during COVID. “It’s peace underwater,” she says. “Hydrotherapy almost. You train your core, your breath, your eyes, your buoyancy—just to hold a position and engage an audience. It’s harder than it looks.”

This rigorous training informs her designs. Silicone tails, power-mesh bases, and fin accents are engineered for movement, buoyancy, and endurance, while color-shifting materials—greens, purples, and iridescent pops—evoke otherworldly elegance. “Mermaiding isn’t widely known,” she explains. “I wanted the garments to be functional for the sport, but also arresting on the runway. Every color, every fabric choice was deliberate.”

Anchored in Heritage

Even in its most fantastical elements, SHERTIENNE roots her collection in history. The Wau kite—a Malaysian cultural symbol—permeates the silhouettes, scales, and accessories. “Being in London made me realize how much I’d ignored my cultural history,” she says.

The collection is a space for research and reclamation, turning personal discovery into visual poetry that audiences can inhabit.

Runway as Performance

On the runway, SHERTIENNE’s designs transcend garments to become kinetic storytelling. Look 1’s detachable collar and fin details demand curiosity, making the audience question the interplay between function and fantasy. Embossed pendants serve as subtle branding, quietly marking identity without overshadowing design. Power-mesh, Douppion, silicone, and gold elements create a choreography of texture, light, and motion. Even seemingly small decisions—like the placement of a pendant or the weight of a fin—are calculated for both aesthetic impact and practicality.

“The power mesh was the most frustrating,” she admits. “Getting measurements and fit right took countless samples, and adding silicone details and finishing edges was painstaking. But every step matters—it’s part of the poetry.”

Sustainability and Responsibility

Sustainability threads through SHERTIENNE’s mission. The designer highlights the environmental impact of conventional mermaiding products, often made from unsustainable fabrics, and frames her own materials as alternatives that honor both aesthetics and the ocean.

“It’s ironic to advocate for the ocean while wearing products that harm it,” she notes. Even without a perfect solution yet, SHERTIENNE prioritizes sharing knowledge and setting a standard for thoughtful, intentional design.

Beyond the Garment

SHERTIENNE’s work isn’t just about looking striking—it’s about feeling empowered. She hopes that wearing her pieces inspires confidence, creativity, and ownership: “I want people to feel excited about how they can style it in their own way, to own the garments physically and emotionally.”

Clouded Allure is more than a collection—it’s a manifesto for self-expression, a bridge between fantasy and reality, and an ode to cultural heritage. From the ocean’s depths to the runway’s spotlight, SHERTIENNE crafts a space where dreams become tangible, movement meets meaning, and poetry is truly yours to write.

Credits: 
Fashion design: Shertienne Lee @shertienne 
Creative direction/photographer: Karolina Kai @Karolinakai.png 
Set Design: Grace Ng @grashi_ng 
Jewelry design: Bertha Ko @komanfongbertha 
Bag design: Effie Wong @effiewong_87 
HMUA #1: Stefanie @E S M É by Stef 
HMUA #2: Rosie Hazel @rosiehazel.hmua 
Model (in tail): Stella @stella_yan_q 
Model (in bodysuit): Nessa @nessa.cara  
Model (in Balcony bra): Cecilie @cwhitehill  

Runway: 
Photographer: @karolinakai.png + @Lcflondon_ + audience 
MUA: @tuurtleeeahh_ 
Model: @charisiufan 
Mermaid Model: @stella_yan_q