Floral Album Iqoqo Lemfashini by Xinyu Zheng

Floral Album Iqoqo Lemfashini by Xinyu Zheng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Imfashini Competition Category.

InsimbiImfashini· 2026

Floral Album Iqoqo Lemfashini

by Xinyu Zheng

Client: Tulip 'n room

Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award Winner in Imfashini Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #177958

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Floral Album Iqoqo Lemfashini

I-Floral Album yiqoqo lemfashini eligqugquzelwe yizithombe zomndeni zeminyaka yawo-1980. Leli qoqo lenziwe ngezindwangu ezisele zingasetshenzisiwe (deadstock) ezihlanganiswe namasu ahlukahlukene omsebenzi wezandla. Ukufekethisa ngezandla, i-crochet, ukufakwa kobuhlalu, ukunitha kanye ne-cross stitch kusetshenziswa kuvelvethi nasezindwangwini ezicwebezelayo ezibekwe ngezingqimba. Imiphetho eyenziwe nge-crochet nezingxenye ezinithiwe zifaka izinto ze-sequin ezibamba ukukhanya lapho ogqokile enyakaza. Ingubo ngayinye yakhiwa ngayodwa, ngakho-ke ayikho into ephindwayo. Zonke izingubo zilingana wonke umuntu. Leli qoqo lihlanganisa umsebenzi wezandla onemininingwane nokusetshenziswa kabusha kwezinto ezinganakiwe.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award

Floral Album Iqoqo Lemfashini iwinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile okunikezwa imiklamo emihle ehlangabezana nezidingo zobungcweti nezemboni ezilindelekile ezimpahleni ezihlelwe kahle. Abawinile beNsimbi babonisa ikhono elikhulu, ubungcweti obuphezulu, ukuqonda kochwepheshe namandla okudala abadali babo. Floral Album Iqoqo Lemfashini ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo nenezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu zemboni futhi unezimfanelo zobuchwepheshe ezifanelekile ezihlanganiswe nolwazi nethalente. Floral Album Iqoqo Lemfashini iyahlonishwa ngenxa yokucophelela kwayo futhi ihlelelwe ukulethela izinguquko zomgangatho wempilo ezisiza ukwenza umhlaba ube yindawo engcono.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This collection reinterprets craftsmanship through the integration of deadstock fabrics and multiple handcraft techniques. Each garment is individually constructed using hand embroidery, crochet, beading, and hand knitting, resulting in unique pieces with no repetition. By layering reclaimed materials with detailed surface work, the collection highlights the value of overlooked resources and connects tactile craftsmanship with contemporary design sensibility.
Dimensions & Packaging: All the pieces are free size.
Tags: tulip n room, sustainable fashion, hand embroidery, deadstock fabrics, recycled materials, haute couture
Production Technology: Each piece is developed using deadstock fabrics combined with multiple handcraft techniques. Velvet, crochet, beading, embroidery, knitting, and cross stitch are applied through experimental craftsmanship. The production process integrates hand beaded garments, crocheted trims with sequin elements, knitted pieces using sequin yarns, and layered transparent textiles. The approach balances couture level precision with sustainable material practices.
Design Challenge: The main challenge lay in balancing nostalgic aesthetics with sustainable production limits. Many desired fabrics were no longer available, requiring extensive trials with deadstock and recycled materials. Achieving hand-embroidered precision on uneven surfaces demanded technical adaptation. The process also involved redefining femininity through craft while ensuring each garment remained wearable and relevant to modern audiences.
Research: The research began as a qualitative exploration of how emotional memory can shape sustainable fashion. The objective was to reinterpret 1980s silhouettes using responsible materials and handcraft techniques. Research methods included material experimentation, archival image analysis, and wearer interviews to study emotional connection to garments. Results revealed that tactile handwork and recycled materials enhance both emotional resonance and sustainability awareness in contemporary fashion.
Inspiration: Inspired by my grandmothers photographs from the 1980s, this project examines fashion as a carrier of personal and collective memory. Visual elements from domestic environments such as lace curtains, plastic flowers, and embroidered tablecloths are abstracted and translated into textiles, surface embellishments, and silhouette structures. The collection reinterprets nostalgia through contemporary design, positioning fashion as an archive of identity, cultural inheritance, and transformation.
Project Duration: This project was initiated in April 2023 and completed in September 2024 in New York.
Operation Flow: The collection is experienced through movement and tactile interaction. As the wearer moves, layered embroidery and sequins catch light, revealing hidden patterns and shifting textures. The garments invite sensory engagement, encouraging emotional connection through touch and reflection. Each piece performs as both clothing and storytelling medium, blending comfort with expressive form.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Xinyu Zheng, 2025.
Trademark (2025) Tulip N’ Room.
Team Members: /
Image Credits: Stefy Lin, 2024.