Poetry in Motion | Series No. 17

April 20, 2020

I was inspired to create our new collection, Series No. 17, by an ancient, poetic wrapping technique that employs a single piece of fabric. Each look in the collection is draped or wrapped using a single panel of silk, cashmere or linen. There is no waste; no excess. In fact, there is no cutting at all.

This process also maintains the integrity of the fabric, so, in future decades, it could even be repurposed. In this moment of returning to the essential, it embodies pure function and simple - yet elegant - form.

The Petal Wrap Skirt was inspired by a 12th-century, southern Song dynasty-era illustration of a one-piece garment designed to be worn over pants.

Fluidity is a central concept in this collection, expressed in the adjustable and versatile ways the pieces can be worn. Our Japanese silk grosgrain ribbon ties are strategically placed, allowing adjustment of each piece to any size. Our bodies change throughout a day and over the years, expanding and contracting. The micro-sizes that can be achieved with ribbons let the wearer customize the fit without constriction.

Ribbons can add versatility - our Peony Dress features a ribbon bow in the back which can also be crossed across the body for a more form-fitting look. And, the shoulder-straps are simply two ribbons overlaid, like a repeated theme. Returning to a most basic and functional design element makes the pieces timeless, as does the purity of the 100% silk material.

This drawing / design dating from the early Qing dynasty circa 1600 resonates with our Silk Pleated Wrap Skirt. Travel folkwear from Yunnan region, it was always made in cotton. For our skirt, we used silk crepe to showcase the drape and movement of the fabric.

Several pieces are also multi-functional: our Silk Pleated Wrap Skirt ties around your waist, or can drape around your shoulders as a chic cape. I already had the idea of the skirt doubling as a pleated cape - then, when I happened across the charming drawing of the Qing dynasty man with rooster, I felt a sense of historical confirmation, a design resonance reaching deep into the past. In returning to basics, you return to timeless design and see similarities and common ground in other eras. It’s the essentials that underpin our design philosophy. We seek to create pieces that are made to last, enduring in their materials and as permanent elements of your wardrobe and life.

Ultimately, siimplicity is a thread that connects us with the ancient. This thread enables us to travel in the mind, and that's a realm without borders or restrictions!