Zen Explorer Clothing

Press Kit

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.

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.

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.

Image Credits

WU (ZhiWu) by Lu Kuan
Photographer: Yang Feng
Model:Li Ming

Patents

Copyright by Lu Kuan/WU ZhiWu

Colors of Zen Explorer Clothing

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