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Press Release

Hmong Silver Heritage Skirt

A' Design Award 2024 Silver Winner in Costume and Heritage Wear Design

16 April 2024

Hmong Silver Heritage Skirt by Zehui Ni
Hmong Silver Heritage Skirt by Zehui Ni
Hmong Silver Heritage Skirt by Zehui Ni
Hmong Silver Heritage Skirt by Zehui Ni
Hmong Silver Heritage Skirt by Zehui Ni

Zehui Ni · CLIENT: Jing Que

Cherished in the Qing and Ming eras, the Mamian heritage skirts are beloved for their symbolism of power and strength. Two exquisite techniques in oriental history : mother of pearl inlays and Hmong silver craft serves as the foundation for this design. Owning a Mamian heritage skirt is akin to possessing a fragment of oriental mystery. It is a celebration of nature's wonders, human ingenuity, and the timeless pursuit of beauty that transcends eras and cultures.

Press Kit

Unique Properties
Popular in the Qing and Ming Dynasties, the Horse-Faced Mamian skirts are beloved for their symbolism. The stallion has long symbolized power, strength, and virility. Wearing a horse-faced skirt was a revering statement for sophistication and wealth.

The Mamian skirts were worn by Empress Dowager Cixi in the Qing Dynasty and Princess Diana. Today, they are worn as a day to day garment in Asia and a symbol of cultural pride.
Dimensions & Packaging
Length: 103 cm
Width: 45 cm
Depth: 5 cm
Tags
Hmong Silver/ Oriental / Pearl Inlay / Mamian Skirt / Horse-faced Skirts
Production Technology
This project is utilized through fabric and woven methods to resemble the pearl inlay technique using Hmong silver designs.
Design Challenge
There are myriad of stories hidden within its lustrous folds, these silver artifacts are passed down from generation to generation, linking the old with the new, the past with the future. Each intricate pattern is inspired by nature and the cosmos, a delicate dance of the earth and stars, intertwined with tales of love, resilience, and triumph.

In its gleam, we honor the hands and hearts that have breathed life into this ageless tradition through the design. Finding a reflection of humanity's eternal quest for meaning, connection, and beauty.
Project Duration
12 Months, Changsha, China
Operation Flow
The Hmong Silver Heritage Skirt is designed for modern wear, from casual to ceremonial. The intricate pearl inlay and silver craft details invite closer inspection and conversation, transforms into a canvas of cultural storytelling, weaving together the past and present in its elegant folds.
Research
Two exquisite techniques are used as inspiration for this design, pearl inlay and Hmong silver.

Pearl Inlay is traditionally a furniture technique made from the iridescent inner lining of pearl oysters and abalone, this meticulous technique is both a testament to artisanal skill and nature’s splendor.

The artistry of the Hmong silver knows no boundaries of time. Forged by the hands of skilled Hmong artisans, the Hmong silver work is a distinctive expression of intricate stories, myths, and aspirations, that speak of the Hmong connection to the land, ancestors, and future generations.
Inspiration
A brilliant dance between two exquisite techniques in oriental history : mother of pearl inlays and Hmong silver craft serves as the foundation for this design.

Imagine the very essence of the sea - the allure of its depths, the mysteries of its shimmering inhabitants - captured and rendered into tangible, breathtaking pieces for everyday wear.
Image Credits
Yuxi Li
Zehui Ni

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