Champa - The Legacy

Category: Apparel

The design I present at the Real Leather. Stay Different 2026 competition is inspired by the art of Bàu Trúc pottery combined with the intricate sculptural motifs found on the temple towers of Champa culture. In my perception, Bàu Trúc Cham pottery is not just fired clay, it is also a metaphor for the woman: soft yet resilient, shaped over time, and radiant after enduring the trial of fire. The evening gown is designed with a silhouette that celebrates the natural curves of the body, combined with surface treatments that evoke crackled textures, raw tactility, and the distinctive tones of fired clay. The motifs are distilled from Champa sculpture and reinterpreted through handcrafted techniques on leather, creating a dialogue between tradition and modernity. With brown as the dominant hue, the design also draws inspiration from the subtle color transformations that occur during the firing process of Bàu Trúc Cham pottery. I believe that leather in this design does more than provide structure—it becomes a ‘second skin,’ expressive in nature, embodying the spirit of ‘Stay Different’: bold and distinctive, yet grounded in authenticity, functionality, and the traditions of handcrafted leather artistry. Through this design, I aim to tell a story of identity—where cultural heritage does not remain frozen in the past, but is continuously reborn through the language of contemporary fashion. And that is the story of Champa heritage—Champa: The Legacy

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