The echoes of Chu Quyen

Category: Apparel

Dear Jury of the “Real Leather, Stay Different” fashion design competition The fashion collection “The Echoes of Chu Quyen” was born from the desire to connect traditional culture with contemporary breath, inspired by Chu Quyen communal house – a typical communal house architectural relic of Vietnam in the 17th century. Chu Quyen communal house stands out with its multi-layered overlapping structure, curved roof and sophisticated three-dimensional lim wood carving technique. Here, each rafters, each terracotta tile, each dragon and phoenix carving preserves an “echo” of history, beliefs and folk art. “The Echoes of Chu Quyen” wishes to listen and recreate those echoes through the language of fashion, turning each design into a whisper of the past that resonates to this day. The main material of the collection is original cowhide - symbolizing durability, firmness and rustic beauty like ancient ironwood. After being hand-processed by carving images of wood carvings in the interior of the communal house onto the surface of raw cowhide and carving the shape of wood grain to create a wooden surface effect. The color palette from earth brown, dark brown to black is hand-dyed in each line in harmony with the dyeing technique, making the sculpture as deep and prominent as possible. The pieces of clothing are perforated and hand-woven to recreate the tight connection like the architecture of the communal house. In terms of shape, the collection exploits the overlapping spirit of the communal house roof through the layering technique: the layered shirts and skirts simulate miniature "steps", creating volume and depth. The roof angles are transformed into soft curves on the flaps, collars and curved bib collars. The seams running along the body of the shirt, combined with symmetrical and asymmetrical details, evoke the image of sturdy ironwood columns, while emphasizing proportion and balance in the design. “The Echoes of Chu Quyen” is not just a series of designs; it is the designer’s declaration of responsibility to preserve and spread cultural heritage. Each outfit is a journey back to the past, bringing the wearer into the sacred space of the village temple and arousing pride in their roots. The outfit is completely handmade, showing the sophistication in every stitch and passion, bearing the mark of craftsmanship and traditional values. Through that, the collection also affirms that Vietnamese fashion can stand side by side with the international fashion scene by boldly evoking its own identity, while constantly innovating so that heritage “echoes” forever in modern life.

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