Shangri-La.

     What could reflect human’s cultures and creations completely? What could always be inspiration for artists, movie makers and designers? What could always stay eternally in fashion trend?  I will say that is ethnic nationality cultures absolutely. There is such a wide diversity of culture on this planet and it feels somehwat special to me that in this corner of the milky way we exist and amongsts our selves there is vibrance and diversity from China, Japan, Turkish, Sweedish, Spanish, English, Latin America e.t.c. But sadly, this diversity is becoming less and less, in terms of Art this is a negative. People from different background have a different perspective on the world. When you see artists, fashion designers or any “Designer” from another country create art it is always different than what you create and you wonder “How is it so different and amazing from my own!?” But, they also will think the same about you “Grass is always greener on the other side”. 

     The more we merge together the more originality becomes less and less, that creative force of a small group of people that would live together in tight knit communities dissipates more with time untill in the end there is one face, one color, one way of thinking…one big global city. Ok, so this is bleak and dismall maybe, but it can turn the other way and at times it seems that people are trying even harder to be individualistic. So there is hope yet! Ethnic cultures also inspire me, small groups of people who are creative in Textile design. You can see on the clothes that the patterns have a meaning, a narrative exists there. The same as a tatto was originaly meant to be something deeply important, a show of a clan or tribe, telling the story of the persons life where each line of the ink had some meaning. Now everything has become a fast food way of living for profit and money. I have to say, this is why I love other artists, and other fashion designers (the ones I have on the list in my head) who create art and textile or which ever medium because of their drive and obsession to create. To create ANY type of art is not out of love for money as I said but for peer approval. When your a kid and making art you love to show other people and this exites you right? I still feel like this every time I make a drawing and upload it for you all to see. The comments and fans fuel me so much (maybe I should say thank you now for always liking my art? THANKS!).

  The theme called:”Shangri-La“, which is a description of exotic paradise like places on the 
southwest of China.The outfit inspirations mixed Miao(and other small nationalities around it) ‘s 
embroidered style, Tibetan and Mongolian men’s outfit elements on the north. But I mixed it with 
a modern, neat way. You may know mongolia and tibet more than miao, actually their accessories 
and embroidered works are the greatest I saw so far, also their works are very decorated, it inspired 
many great designers such as Lee Mcqueen. I wish next time when I travel there I could wear their real
costume properly, after all It is difficult to find whole exotic traditional costumes in Europe.
Weaving is the most original and also the most impressive way to present a nationality culture since thousands years ago. Embroidered pieces are more like drawings, these colorful patterns could be abstract geometric, plants,people’s life, religion… I really think they could include anything in the universe.

Collar and Belt by 
Miao ethnic nationality
handmade piece
Top and Skirt by COS
Tights by Bebaroque
Heels by Melissa

Illustration by Nancy.Z
Photography by Ajdin.B

Inspirations- Miao’s female outfit.
Inspirations- Miao’s female outfit.

Miao’s textile details

Miao and other southwest nationalities’ embroidered items.

Present Miao’s outfit & Ancient’s Miao’s oufit 

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