Will Jones“Trace of Love” Recognized in Both Womenswear and Luxury Categories
Hwanhee Lee’s award-winning collection “Trace of Love,” recognized with dual Gold distinctions at the New York Product Design Awards.
Fashion designer Hwanhee Lee has received international recognition at the New York Product Design Awards, earning two Gold distinctions for her collection Trace of Love. The collection was honored in both the Clothing & Accessories – Womenswear and Clothing & Accessories – Luxury categories, demonstrating Lee’s ability to deliver design excellence across multiple sectors of contemporary fashion.
The New York Product Design Awards is recognized as a global platform that celebrates innovation and excellence across design disciplines. Lee’s dual Gold recognition places her among a select group of designers acknowledged for outstanding achievement, highlighting both the conceptual strength and technical execution of her work.
Lee is a fashion designer specializing in womenswear and luxury design, known for integrating conceptual narratives with refined construction. Her work has been recognized for translating abstract emotional themes into structured garments, combining aesthetic clarity with technical precision. Through her practice, she has established a design approach that balances artistic expression with material sophistication.
“Trace of Love”: A Concept-Driven Collection
Lee’s award-winning collection, Trace of Love, reflects on the lasting impact of human connection and the subtle, often unseen traces that love leaves over time. Rather than presenting love as a fixed moment, the collection explores how emotional experiences evolve, shaping identity through memory, gesture, and presence.
The conceptual foundation of the collection originates from a material-driven process involving soft ceramic forms. Clay is shaped through the physical interaction of two individuals, where warmth and pressure naturally transform its surface. This process leaves behind organic curves and imprints, serving as a visual and material metaphor for emotional traces. Both the act of creation and the resulting forms became central inspiration for the garments.
These ideas are translated into fashion through draped silhouettes, wrapped structures, and curved seam lines that reflect gestures of intimacy such as embracing, leaning, and holding. Carefully selected fabrics evoke softness and warmth, reinforcing the emotional depth embedded within each piece. By integrating sculptural form with refined construction, the collection demonstrates Lee’s ability to transform conceptual narratives into wearable design.
This balance between emotional storytelling and technical execution contributed to the collection’s recognition in both the womenswear and luxury categories.
Evaluation Process and Industry Recognition
The New York Product Design Awards employs a rigorous and impartial evaluation process. Submissions are judged independently and are not directly compared to other entries within the same category, ensuring fairness in assessment.
The jury panel consists of experienced designers and creative professionals selected based on expertise and credibility. Each submission is evaluated according to clearly defined criteria, including form, creativity and innovation, finishing and functionality, and overall impact.
This structured evaluation framework reinforces the significance of Lee’s dual Gold recognition, demonstrating that her work achieved high standards across multiple dimensions of design. The recognition underscores her ability to produce work that meets both artistic and professional benchmarks.
Receiving Gold awards in two distinct categories highlights the versatility of Lee’s design practice and affirms her position as a designer with growing international visibility. Her work demonstrates relevance beyond a single category, reflecting a balance between concept-driven design and the expectations of the global luxury fashion industry.
Looking Ahead
Following this achievement, Lee is expected to continue expanding her body of work through future collections that build on her established design language. With a focus on innovation, craftsmanship, and narrative driven design, she continues to develop work that contributes to ongoing dialogue within fashion and design.
As she advances her career, Hwanhee Lee is actively expanding her presence across the United States, with plans to engage in projects and collaborations in major fashion hubs including New York and Los Angeles. By establishing a broader geographic footprint, she aims to further connect with diverse creative communities and continue growing as a fashion designer within the global industry.
Hwanhee Lee’s recognition at the New York Product Design Awards marks a significant milestone in her career, reinforcing her standing as a designer recognized for both creative vision and execution within the international design community.