Zen Explorer Collectio Vestium Virilium by Kuan Lu

Zen Explorer Collectio Vestium Virilium by Kuan Lu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Ars Vestiaria Competition Category.

ArgentumVestis· 2023

Zen Explorer Collectio Vestium Virilium

by Kuan Lu

Client: Lu Kuan

Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Vestis Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #149768

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Zen Explorer Collectio Vestium Virilium

Zen Explorer est collectio vestium virilium ex textilibus antiquis et pannis naturaliter tinctis confecta. Panni historici colliguntur et secundum magnitudinem, crassitudinem ac tempus anni digeruntur, deinde cum materia nova, more tradito indico tincta, coniunguntur. Indicum per fermentationem, sine chemicis industrialibus, conficitur. Magna pars operis manu perficitur, quo artes et formae traditae servantur. Haec collectio pannum vetustum cum arte hodierna materias renovandi coniungit, atque vestimenta cotidiana durabilia et singularia praebet.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum

Zen Explorer Collectio Vestium Virilium victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Zen Explorer Collectio Vestium Virilium opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. Zen Explorer Collectio Vestium Virilium creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This project "The Tao of Fashion: Re-cycle of Life" aims to subvert the stereotype of fashion industry. The methodology is to collect and classify the historic textiles initially, and incorporate the new material dyed by the traditional "Indigo Dyeing" technique. This project keeps all the craftsmanship handmade to respect and retain the traditional crafts and graphics, and incorporate contemporary upcycle design concepts, which could carry on the traditional oriental cultural and bring daily dressing code updated, durable and unique.
Dimensions & Packaging: The concept item is an artistic wearable item that can be used, and be an artistic installation displaying by hanging. The prototype structure of a suit grows out of the original antique "Hundred Sons" blanket.
Width 180 cm Length 200 cm
All ready-to-wear looks are size 48 male form.
Tags: Timeless, Clothing, Cultural heritage, Sustainable fashion, Recycle,Experimental
Production Technology: Mainly using mass-produced natural indigo dyed materials, combined with a small amount of precious recycled textile which is vintage pieces.
The unique essence and the production process have ethical considerations and sustainable fashion development. The indigo produced by R&D (ethical production&sustainable fashion) can only be realized through fermentation. The manufacturing process is natural and environmentally friendly without industrial chemicals. The importance of material recycling is also an important purpose of design and production.
Design Challenge: The concept and practice of this project challenge is about the development of sustainable fashion and the inheritance of slow handwork. Ideas on how design thinking can create original and unique products for balancing sustainable fashion industry and new aesthetic market.
Research: According to material properties, each piece of material has its unique "character". The method of classifying materials is combined with scale, thickness, and season to develop, mix with the new materials to make a design experiment of slow fashion and limited supply. Specifically, the collected antique fabric is used as a clue to develop the design system. How fashion can continue to be sustainable while taking into account creation, and a balanced combination of creating less waste and durability. It is a sustainable and contemporary fashion practice.
Inspiration: The design is inspired by exploring the depths of blue.
Indigo textile culture with a long history, blue is the ocean, the universe, and the central mind. Natural reincarnation is the exploration of Zen, and it is also a sustainable fashion practice in the present. From a point of view that old and new, gain and loss, useless and useful, trend and eternity are infusing. This project explores and balances the possibilities of design.
Using the traditional culture and crafts to combine with modern design elements to create unique practices and new inheritance.
Project Duration: Works was designed and produced in 2018.
Present in 2020 China National Silk Museum
Operation Flow: Cloth are half handmade and half machine made,which makes product as unique wearable item. The project is using natural Indigo dying to achieve a comfortable feeling, artistic textural surface and eco-friendly to sustainable fashion design development.
Patents: Copyright by Lu Kuan/WU ZhiWu
Team Members: Creative Director and Designer:Lu Kuan
Image Credits: WU (ZhiWu) by Lu Kuan
Photographer: Yang Feng
Model:Li Ming