Story
& Inspiration
Texture of Tree
My grandma used to own a tailor store.
Every day she dealt with the fabric that the customers brought and made well-designed clothes out of it.
Back then, fabrics were mainly cotton, linen, and wool that people made from natural materials. Unlike all the machine-made materials we have nowadays.
She enjoyed combining the design requests from customers with her own sense of fashion and tailor skill. But now, she no longer customizes clothes – now it is a job for a machine.
Tree Shadow On A Sunny Day.
I still remember that my grandma was amazed that people could make clothes so easily with the machine. But sometimes she complained that modern clothes are not interesting enough and some are crudely made.
It’s sad to hear these complaints, but who would pay more for the tailor to customize, when you could more easily shop for much cheaper and more versatile commercially made clothes?
Porcelain Button
Painting
2019
acrylic and mixed media on canvas
Some people call the old tailor a "craftsman.” These craftsmen still exist and embrace the traditional elements of their making.
Some of them use hand stitches, some of them use natural dye, and some of them use the vintage fabric.
Fashion is a language and it is a memory. It tells the story of history and these craftsmen who were part of that history.
Yuan Dynasty,
Robe with silk braiding decoration
I traced the history of clothing from ancient China to 70s, and I hope to let more people get to know about traditional craftsmanship. My inspiration comes from the trees and leaves, shadows, old pictures and books.
Hand Stitches
My love for the craft can be found in the details - the hand-made buttons, tea-dye tags of the clothes, and the hand-stitching.
Fabric Development
Tag for the Clothes