Archives for category: costume
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Wedding Shawl

11/22/2012 //
0

W720xH450mm, China

Something old,
something new,
something borrowed,
something blue,
and a sixpence in her shoe

Now how can we have Something Old Something New and not an item about wedding.  This is part of a wedding gown for rural China, this would be the shawl for the bride.  For the common folks, the bride would have wear her hair in a bun and covered with a red cloth, the clothing would be in red with similar pattern as the shawl, on the bottom she would wear a pair of simple red pants.  The shawl is embroidered with patterns of blessing, quite different from the blessing of the west but a blessing nonetheless.

Tags , , , ,
Categories costume, embroidery

Tiger Headband

10/03/2012 //
0

DIA130xH70mm, China

Like the tiger shoes, this is a tiger headband for the baby’s hundred day celebration.  They normally comes as a form of a hat, this headband is a relatively rare item.

In the old days when natural disaster and disease cannot be explained, they are often taken as an evil spell.  Helplessly people projected their hope onto a powerful animal and the tiger being the king of all animals (as there are not native lion in China) it has been an object of worship.

Tags , , , , ,
Categories costume, embroidery, fabric

Miao Woven Band

09/27/2012 //
0

W65xL3200mm, China

Like the colourful band in the previous post, this black and white woven band is also a band of blessing.  The Miao tribe reside on the hillside where they are constantly harassed by the snakes; once upon a time, a snake attacked a girl by wrapping its body on her, a young lad came to her rescue.  The two soon fell in love, the girl woven a band for the young man as a sign of their love.  One day as they were travelling together they came across another snake who was ready to attack, the lad used the band, wiggle it to imitate the snake and led the snake back into the woods.  Since then, it was believed that the band would protect them from snake and all evils and the woven band became popular for the Miao.

Tags , , , , , ,
Categories costume, fabric, tribal

Du Dou Embroidery

09/01/2012 //
2

Embroidery DIA200mm, China

This embroidery is from a silk du dou, a more elaborated version than the one shown in the previous post – du dou.  The du dou is the traditional undergarment for the Chinese; it was invented by Nu Wa and Fu Xi, the Chinese version of Adam and Eve and this is their version of the fig leave.  The embroidery has a symbolic meaning of fertility; in the center is a baby with a long life locket, under him is is a pomegranate (a fruit of many seeds), over him is a bat (which has the same pronunciation as “blessing”)

Tags , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories costume, embroidery, fabric

HK Central Art Geeks

08/20/2012 //
0

An interview with the HK Central Art Geeks, a Singaporean group who set out to discover the artistic side of Hong Kong.

Visit their web site @
http://bigshot52.sg/Hkartgeeks/index.html

Some of our fabric: Stencil Dye Fabric, Hand Woven Textile, Hand Woven Textile, Miao Hand Woven Fabric, Indigo Dye Fabric, Ikat, Silk Tie Dye, Indigo Dye Fabric, Tie Dye, Discharge Dye Fabric.

Tags , , , , , , , , ,
Categories costume, embroidery, fabric, Uncategorized

Du Dou

08/17/2012 //
0

L250xW350mm, China

Du Dou is the traditional Chinese undergarment to be worn on the upper part of the body.  The top will be hang around the neck by a ribbon while the side is tied around the body by another ribbon.  It is usually made by the female for their lovers, hubby, children or for their own use.  The one used by the female are usually a simple red cloth without any embroidery, the one for the lover are more elaborated  the theme for the embroidery will be  some love story from opera, legends etc.  The embroidery made for the children are that of blessing, zodiac signs, etc.

Tags , , , , , , , ,
Categories costume, embroidery, fabric

Miao Pleated Dress

07/13/2012 //
0

CIR650xH650mm, China

The pleated dress is part of the female Miao tribe costume.  The legend of the pleated dress goes like this; once upon a time, there was a handsome Miao hunter, one day he caught a beautiful golden pheasant and he gave it as a gift to the girl he was in love with.  The girl, Ah Beng, looking at the golden pheasant and decided to make herself as beautiful as the bird, so she weaved a cloth added embroidery and made herself a pleated dress.  The neighbors saw how beautiful she looked and soon everyone started dressing with amazing pleated dresses.

Tags , , , , , , , , ,
Categories costume, embroidery, fabric, tribal

Cushion Cover – x stitch

06/14/2012 //
0

W600xL600mm, China

This cushion cover is made with the “seat” portion of a baby carrier used by the Miao tribe.  Baby carrier has been a both a functional and symbolical item in China; it enables mothers to go to the fields while keeping the baby by their side, traditionally mothers will sew the carrier by hand, the embroidery on the carrier embedded symbols of  blessing extending their love for the child.  With the modernisation of China, hand stitch baby carrier can only be  found among the minority tribes.

Tags , , , , , , ,
Categories costume, embroidery, fabric, tribal

Fish Bag

05/30/2012 //
0

Big Fish – L200xH120mm, China

A modern bag for childern, a small red fish for pocket money and a big fish for all the other goodies.  The small fish is like to the big fish, so however hard its tries it will always be swallowed by the big fish …

Tags , , , , ,
Categories container, costume, fabric, toy

Tiger Embroidery

05/25/2012 //
0

W75xH200mm, China

This small piece of silk embroidery (which we have framed) was taken from a children’s underwear (Du Dou).  The Du Dou is an undergarment for cover the chest and tummy, its a rectangular or square piece of cloth to be worn diagonally with the top corner trimmed for the neck.  2 strings affixed to the top corner is tied around the neck while the 2 strings attached to the side corners are tied around the back.  The embroidery patterns for children are of the theme of blessing; tiger is one of them.  Tiger is seen as an animal of strength and power, it has been worship for its protection; it is believed that evils will be frighten away when embroidery that has been wrapped around a child.  The tiger Du Dou is traditionally worn by all the children and babies on Duan Wu (the day of ills).

Tags , , , , , , ,
Categories costume, embroidery, fabric, painting / prints
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »