Shanghai Tang is delighted to introduce METAMORPHOSIS, the vibrant new Spring/Summer 2011 collection which transforms the beautiful traditional costumes of the Miao into contemporary luxury collections for women and men.
Each season, Shanghai Tang presents fascinating aspects of China's rich culture on its continuing mission as the global ambassador of contemporary Chinese chic. For Spring/Summer 2011, the focus is on the Miao, one of China's most captivating ethnic minorities.
They live predominantly in the hills around Southern China, and their profound respect for nature is reflected in the motifs, embellishments, and colours of their clothing. The butterfly, for example, is a mythical Miao symbol of metamorphosis and beauty, and is reinterpreted in delightful ways throughout this new collection.
WOMEN'S COLLECTION: PRINTS
Miao batiks and prints are traditionally coloured by natural indigo dyes and feature symbols from nature. The butterfly, for example, is considered the mother of all living things in Miao mythology, and is a prominent symbol in textiles and embellishments.
Shanghai Tang re-interprets the legendary motif in the new Butterfly Flower and Miao Flower prints, which zoom in on butterfly wings with a high-tech, pixelated effect. The designers also pay homage to the ornate jewellery and decorative elements of Miao costume on prints such as Charms, and the indigo-hued Miao Star, Indigo Medallion, and Batik Butterfly.
Miao Celebration offers a sleek, monotone interpretation of traditional festival coats. The Metamorphosis collection ranges from elegant, minimalist representations of Miao prints to joyful celebrations of their bright traditional colour palette. Miao Patch, for example, offers a sophisticated patchwork of indigo, red and gold motifs, including butterflies, flowers, birds, coins and lattice patterns.
KEY ITEMS
The Miao's colourful nature informs every item of the Spring/Summer 2011 collection, from intricate embroidery in Lurex and embroidered panels on Mao collar jackets, to jewellery-inspired metallic buttons on knits.
The black and white palette is punctuated by Miao indigo blues and jade greens with rich red and fuchsia highlights. More subtle references appear on cotton shirts with tone-on-tone patterns and embroidery on the sleeves or across the back, and even hidden prints on linings.
New to Shanghai Tang's contemporary qipao line is the streamlined, double-pleat dress, which crosses over at the waist and makes a minimalist reference to the pleated skirts often worn by Miao women.
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