The Song of Samsara

This collection is an evocative interpretation of the Dong minority's spiritual concept of samsara—the cycle of life, death, and rebirth—mirrored through the transformative journey of a butterfly. This unique collection symbolizes the profound metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly, capturing the essence of continual transformation and the perpetual bonds that transcend physical existence.

Each piece in the collection embodies these transformative stages with fluidity and grace, using design elements that evolve from cocoon-like enclosures to expansive, butterfly-wing-inspired silhouettes. The use of natural dyeing methods enhances the organic feel of the garments and reflects the natural evolution in a butterfly's life, highlighting the connection between the cultural symbolism of samsara and the natural world. To enhance the transfer of natural dyes from plants like eucalyptus leaves onto fabrics, this method creates unique, vibrant prints by combining the oxidizing properties of rust with the organic pigments in plants, emphasizing both artistry and sustainability.

The delicate interplay of sheer silk and opaque natural fabrics in the collection serves to reveal and conceal, a nod to the mystical and often unseen transitions in the cycle of samsara. This visual dialogue not only ties back to the theme of visible transformations but also resonates deeply with the Dong legend that life's connections are not severed by death but are instead transformed and continued in different forms.