Plus-size fashion designer on how DPR Ian helped get her strength back

Moodswings in This Order (2021), the debut release from Korean-Australian musician DPR Ian, marries pop, R&B and hip hop with introspective lyrics exploring the various mental-health challenges that the singer has faced, using characters including the manic Mr Insanity and the depressed Mito.

Makayla Ng Sze-nga, Hong Kong fashion designer and founder of plus-size label Fashion Corner Plus, tells Richard Lord how it changed her life.

I came to his music in 2021 – this was his first release. I was just randomly looking on YouTube – I saw the video and it attracted me to plug in and listen. The music was good and the video was very attractive, so I researched the story behind the album.

It’s based on his own experiences. He has bipolar disorder, and he expresses that through this album, including all his negative thoughts. The most important thing is that he tells people to accept who they are and live with themselves.

When I discovered this album, I was at my lowest point; I had lost my passion for everything. When I listened to it, it reminded me of what I was doing, and why I was doing it.

I wanted to provide something that allowed plus-size girls in Hong Kong to be who they are. It can be hard, going out and trying to find clothes that fit – people judge you.

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Listening to this album, I got my strength back. It was the only way I could carry on – I knew that I was not alone. With Covid, the whole world was changing, and people’s plans were not going the way they wanted.

I’ve been doing my business for almost 10 years, but I’m always overthinking: is it OK to do this? I’m always criticising myself. Not many people around me understand what I’m doing, and I felt like I had no one to talk to.

When I started my career, people told me: “No, no way, not going to happen” – people don’t want to let other people know that they’re going to buy clothes in a plus-size store.

I do feel anxious and unhappy when people are judging me or telling me I’m not good enough. I thought maybe I should just quit, find a normal job and not do what I want to do. But this album made me realise I’m lucky to be doing what I love.

You can influence life with life. We don’t know how what we are doing might affect people. We can share with people and they can feel like they’re not alone.

Now I feel like I have my strength back. I’m confident in what I’m doing: I want to follow my feelings and do my own thing, and not be too concerned about the result.

There are songs on the album that are still on my playlist every day. On (album closer) “No Silhouette”, he sings “I lost myself.” I kept looping it when I was at my lowest; I was so into it.

I thought, “This is me and what I’m going through.”