Hmong Silver Sekepe sa Lefa by Zehui Ni is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Diaparo tsa Setso le Nalane Competition Category.

SileveraMoralo wa Diaparo tsa Setso· 2024

Hmong Silver Sekepe sa Lefa

by Zehui Ni

Client: Jing Que

Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award Winner in Moralo wa Diaparo tsa Setso Category

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Colors

The Design

About Hmong Silver Sekepe sa Lefa

Di ananelwa ka dinako tsa Qing le Ming, disekepe tsa lefa tsa Mamian di ratuwa ka kemelo ya tsona ya matla le thata. Mekgwa e mmedi e metle ya nalane ya bochabela: dikgabaganyo tsa perele ya mookudi le bonono ba silevera ba Hmong di sebetsa e le motheo wa moralo ona. Ho ba le sekepe sa lefa sa Mamian ho tshwana le ho ba le sekhahla sa lekunutu la bochabela. Ke ketelo ya ditshenehelo tsa tlhaho, bohlale ba batho, le takatso ya botle e sa feleng e fetang dinako le ditso.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award

Hmong Silver Sekepe sa Lefa ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e phahameng ka ho fetesisa, e ntle le e tsosang maikutlo. Bahapi ba Silevera ke mesebetsi e khanyang haholo le e nang le boqapi bo ikhethang e bontšang botsebi, talenta le bohlale ba baqapi ba eona. Hmong Silver Sekepe sa Lefa e lebelletsoe ho ba mosebetsi o motle, oa mohlala, o nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha e tebileng. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award ke mohopolo o hlokomelehang haholo le o ratoang o tlisang molemo mme o sutumelletsang meeli ea bonono, mahlale, moralo le theknoloji. Hmong Silver Sekepe sa Lefa ke mosebetsi oo batho ba bangata ba o lakatsang, o tsosang litakatso, o tlisang maikutlo a matle le o tsosetsang ho makala le ho hlolla.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

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.
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.
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.
Image Credits: Yuxi Li
Zehui Ni