From New York, London, to Paris, Z I D I Creative Director Nathan Moy incorporates the influence from these three cities in his exploration of identity, gender, and sustainable fashion. As one of the emerging Designers in CENTRESTAGE 2025, he harnesses visual language to respond to augmented realities, posing questions about the future through design: How identities form at the intersection of innovative technologies and cultural convergence, what are the boundaries between the virtual and real, and how a distinct design language forms in the space of ethics, craftsmanship and imagination.
In Nathan Moy’s creations, clothing is a medium of storytelling, and his design language converges the contemporary landscape of culture, technology and identity construction. Through material, silhouettes, and structure, he continues to challenge societal conventions of authenticity and artifice, gender and power, and limits and freedoms. He considers fashion as a vessel of thought, treating design as a cultural responsibility, and emphasising context and the universality of language.
Having experienced New York’s audacious rhythm, London’s fearless experimentation, and Paris’ timeless craftsmanship, Nathan responds to the complexity of the human experience as the Creative Director of Z I D I. He’s focused on the intersection of technology and ethics, and how wearing such a clothing item transforms into a fluid language of one’s identity.
From interviewing Nathan, we explored his creative process, learning how a young brand uses a meticulous design discipline to respond to the present, and utilises material choice, production mechanics, and aesthetic narrative to expand the dimensions of fashion.
VOGUE HK: Your academic and professional path has taken you through New York, London, and Paris—three major cultural capitals. How have these experiences shaped your current understanding of brand language and garment culture?
Nathan Moy: Navigating the vibrant streets of New York, London, and Paris has profoundly enriched my understanding of brand language and garment culture. Each city possesses a unique rhythm and narrative that informs its fashion identity. New York’s audacity inspires a bold, urban aesthetic; London’s eclecticism fosters a spirit of experimentation, while Paris embodies timeless elegance and craftsmanship. This confluence of influences has taught me that a brand must resonate with its cultural context while also transcending it. My approach to brand language is about weaving these diverse threads into a cohesive narrative that speaks to the complexities of modern identity and the shared human experience.
VOGUE HK: You’ve worked across couture, leather goods, and ready-to-wear. How have these different systems of making and operating influenced the way you approach building your own brand?
Nathan Moy: Working across couture, leather goods, and ready-to-wear has granted me a multifaceted perspective on craftsmanship and consumer engagement. Couture instilled in me a reverence for meticulous detail and artistry, while leather goods taught me about durability and timelessness. Ready-to-wear, with its accessibility, emphasised the importance of relatability and innovation in design. Integrating these systems, I approach my brand with a commitment to quality and creativity, ensuring that each piece—regardless of category—embodies the ethos of thoughtful design, sustainability, and inclusivity.
VOGUE HK: Z I D I’s designs often explore the boundaries between illusion and structure. Is this visual language also a response to contemporary themes such as digital culture, fluid identities, or our current social realities?
Nathan Moy: Absolutely. The interplay between illusion and structure in Z I D I’s designs reflects the complexities of contemporary existence. In a digital culture where identities are fluid and often curated, my work seeks to challenge perceptions and provoke thought. This visual language becomes a metaphor for the layers we navigate daily—between authenticity and artifice, tradition and innovation. By blurring these boundaries, I aim to create garments that resonate with the multifaceted nature of our lives, inviting wearers to explore their own narratives through fashion.
VOGUE HK: The brand emphasises quality, limited production, and inclusivity. How do these three values interact in your design decisions? How do you balance the tension between creative freedom and these self-imposed constraints?
Nathan Moy: Quality, limited production, and inclusivity are the cornerstones of Z I D I, and they coexist symbiotically in my design process. Prioritising quality necessitates a focus on craftsmanship and ethical sourcing, while limited production fosters exclusivity and intentionality. Inclusivity drives me to ensure that my designs are accessible to diverse body types and identities. Balancing these values requires a creative discipline that embraces constraints as catalysts for innovation. Rather than viewing them as limitations, I see them as guiding principles that enrich my creative vision, ultimately leading to more profound and meaningful designs.
VOGUE HK: Have you ever encountered a dilemma when choosing materials, between environmental responsibility and design completeness? How do you negotiate that tension or turn it into a creative opportunity?
Nathan Moy: Indeed, the choice of materials often presents a complex dilemma. However, I view this tension as an opportunity for innovation rather than a setback. By exploring sustainable alternatives and collaborating with innovative textile producers, I can achieve both environmental responsibility and design integrity. Each material choice becomes a story, reflecting a commitment to ethical practices while still delivering a complete aesthetic vision. This ongoing dialogue between sustainability and creativity fuels my passion and drives me to push the boundaries of what is possible in fashion.
VOGUE HK: Z I D I spans clothing, accessories, and footwear. How do you ensure a consistent sustainable standard across these different categories—while maintaining your design integrity?
Nathan Moy: Consistency across categories is achieved through a holistic approach to sustainability that permeates every aspect of Z I D I. I establish rigorous standards for ethical sourcing, production practices, and material selection that apply uniformly to clothing, accessories, and footwear. This commitment ensures that every piece reflects our core values while allowing for creative exploration. Maintaining design integrity means embracing innovation within these standards, allowing me to experiment with form and function without compromising our sustainability mission.
VOGUE HK: Can you share the inspiration behind your upcoming collection?
Nathan Moy: I am currently immersed in the creation of two distinct yet interconnected collections. The first is a culmination of my Autumn/Winter 2025 FLUX series, featuring a capsule collection of seven looks, five of which will grace the runway in September as a finalist for the prestigious Redress Design Award Competition. This entirely sustainable couture collection is born from the deconstruction of vintage men’s windbreakers, reimagined into feminine silhouettes infused with Victorian elements like corsetry, brassieres, and crinolines. Through this transformative process, I aim to challenge notions of fragile masculinity and interrogate the intricate relationship between power and gender identity within societal constructs. The second collection, titled “AETHER,” delves into themes of time dilation, warped perspectives, and twisted silhouettes, while also exploring our evolving relationship with artificial intelligence and the concept of digital sentience. Together, these collections embody a dialogue between past and future, inviting reflection on the fluidity of identity in a rapidly changing world.
VOGUE HK: Looking ahead, what direction do you envision for Z I D I? Are there particular goals or territories—creative, cultural, or geographical—that you hope to explore next?
Nathan Moy: As I look to the future, I envision Z I D I extending its narrative into uncharted realms of creative expression and cultural discourse. My aspiration is to forge collaborations with artists and communities that share a dedication to sustainability and inclusivity, creating connections that transcend geographical boundaries. I am particularly excited about the potential of innovative technologies, such as augmented reality and virtual environments, to enhance our design processes while advancing our environmental mission. Ultimately, my goal is to cultivate a global community that not only appreciates fashion as an art form but also recognises its transformative power as a catalyst for positive change in our world. Through these endeavours, I hope to inspire a deeper understanding of fashion’s role in shaping cultural narratives and fostering a more equitable future.
