Ethereal Couture

Press Kit

Unique Properties

This collection is named “Ethereal,” interpreted as a Sprite living in an Ethereal world. The concept of “Ethereal” explores the identity of modern Chinese women in Marriage culture as well through exaggerated silhouettes or unique fabric texture to represent a new image of women, which can be reborn, mysterious, strong, or charming. Through the recreation of traditional mandarin patterns, the totem of Dragon or Phoenix means nobility, magnificence, and auspicious.

Dimensions & Packaging

Dress's size is suitable for USA size 8
Couture technic

Tags

(Chinese bridal wear, Couture design, Embroidery design, Chinese patterns, Evening wear)

Production Technology

This collection combines complex fabrics with soft fabrics, using stiff pleated fabrics, soft silk, lightweight Tulle fabric, lace. These fabrics show the collection's silhouette and add feminine femininity to the details. Embroidery techniques add narrative to the collection, which continues traditional Eastern aesthetics to modern Western fashion.

Design Challenge

As a Chinese fashion designer, it is risky only to interpret Chinese culture in clothing as a Chinese designer because China has more than 5,000 years of class history related to clothing. Chinese clothing had strict regulations and restrictions in the long development history. The "unification of clothing" in developing an independent style distinguishes the Chinese fashion designer from others. I decided to interpret this "Ethereal" collection from a diversified global perspective. I was balancing the Chinese elements and western fashion culture in fashion design by combining the silhouette of the west dress with the pattern of the East, keeping the typical colors of the East and the West, white and red.

Project Duration

The project started in January 2021 in Savannah, USA, and October in 2021 in Savannah, USA, and was exhibited in Savannah in January 2022.

Operation Flow

This collection combines Eastern and Western wedding dress designs to meet the needs for Oriental weddings. This collection contains the cultural elements of The Mandarin wedding dress, such as the dragon, phoenix and red color. It is modernized by combining to the Western wedding dress. This collection can be placed into the market, which is story-packed and marketable.

Research

The design aims to fulfill the needs of brides for modern Mandarin wedding dresses. Although traditional Chinese brides are familiar with their red wedding dresses, many Chinese brides have begun to wear white wedding dresses nowadays. The westernization of Chinese bride's clothing is a result of the globalization in culture, art, and commerce. Nevertheless, the costumes of various countries embody national culture and history, and they also carry identity symbols of different nationalities. It is essential for Chinese to return to their tradition and explore traditional clothing for the future development of Mandarin clothing. Therefore, this series involves cultural exchange, global vision, national identity, and other aspects to explore the significance of wedding dress culture in the East and west.

Inspiration

The silhouette, elements, pattern, and fabrics in this collection were inspired by Dragons, which is an emotional concept in this collection. Dragon symbolizes imperial power, meaning "leading position" in Chinese tradition. The female images in this collection are described as independent, confident, leading their own lives through their cognition. Moreover, the aesthetic reflects the combination of history and modernity, east and West in fashion.

Image Credits

Image #1: Linlin Nie, Ethereal, 2022.
Image #2: Linlin Nie, Ethereal, 2022.
Image #3: Linlin Nie, Ethereal, 2022.
Image #4: Linlin Nie, Ethereal, 2022.
Image #5: Linlin Nie, Ethereal, 2022.

Colors of Ethereal Couture