Book signning event in Beijing

  The book signing event ended very well last weekend, although it wasn't easy to run any public event during this month in China.( Because of the national congress of communist). I do appreciate that there were many readers came and support my "Street impressions"so much, it is a big encouragement for me. To be honest I am not a perfect speaker, sometimes could be really anxious when I tried to make an oral speech,however,it was very relaxing to communicate with readers, I did my best to share my experiences with my audiences. Also, many of my old classmates came to the event, reminded me the old school time. It was such a great day. Hopefully we could meet each other in Europe and US soon! And...Will come back to Berlin this weekend! I miss ittttt!

 Pictures by Nicolas(Special thanks to Esprit China photography support)

The way to keep going.

  Nothing about laziness,I am working on few design projects and my "Street impressions" book signing events in China recently. Many readers ask me why I didn't update my personal illustrations as many as before, actually I still insist on drawing many different kinds of styles,but more for the book projects and commercial designs.Each time after uploaded my fashion look drawings,it made me relaxed a little bit. Fashion diaries is one of the ways to express my life, but not the only way.It can make other people happy as it brings a view into another persons life, a intimate or personal perspective. 
   Yesterday I read a quote from Ang Lee, which said most of artists have to keep thinking, keep pushing themselves to refresh their talents,as if you peel the layers of onion one by one. It is very true. From my opinion everyone has different talents,if you don't keep learning,your passions and talents will be gone so quickly. So it doesn't matter who you are, the point is not to become lazy when it comes to being creative. You have to keep going, keep learning and experimenting, pushing yourself no matter what you do in life as long as it is something you love. To be consumed in what you love in life is a warm feeling and comforting, it is, also one of the things that makes a person great at their chosen field. That love for knowledge, learning, and to become great. 

  The theme of this time is Trench elegance again.This background was a very old condition houses district,which my father used to play with this friends when he was a kid. It has an old world quality to it that I can imagine in books or other forms of drawings.  When I come back, be sure to keep an eye on the blog there will be a lot more art and illustrations =) .

  "A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament"  Oscar Wilde. 

Hat from my Childhood

Shirt by COS

Trench coat by Iris & Ink

Scarf by Orla Kiely

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Photography by Jessie.Z

 

The spirits of Finnish design.

  Almost everything in our life is a kind of design:Your furniture,your apartment,your clothes, ...and all the services as well. The phone which you use to read this text right now, or the chair you sit on, the building and many other things .In the modern society design has become the most visual way to show people's life style.
   So I was invited by Finnair,I had some incredible experiences from Finnair and Marimekko during the Finnish design week.Also it was the reason I visited Shanghai again.
   Finland is one of the countries which support their national design industry the most.It is respectful that they always try to match avant designs to our daily life style.After"Angry Bird"project,Finnair announced to cooperate with one of the most famous Finnish fashion/life style brand Marimekko.This combination not only presents a new way of services,but also shows their ambition of the airline commercial competitions in Asia.Will they give us a surprise?
  I am a fan of "Marimekko style" for a long time.Those colorful patterns always reminds me the illustration books I read when I was kid.It was lovely to see all the cups,dishes,sheets design by Marimekko during the flight trip to Shanghai, also it was a surprise to see " A Marimekko fashion show" on the air,I have to say Finnair is very creative.As one of the biggest connection spots between Europe and Asia, Helsinki airport has countless flights fly between these two lands.Long time journey in the airplane makes passengers bored and tried. Some colorful or delightful designs could make people feels much more comfortable. Apparently this flight did a great job,all the passengers seemed to really enjoy the trip.
  Ok,let's talk more about the Finnish design week in Shanghai.
  Marimekko CEO and Finnair CEO introduced the concept in the 3 year airline cooperation conferences to Global medias.The inspirations of the production designs are Finnish nature surroundings.Blue is like the ocean,green is as the forest. All of them are made by light materials to reduce the fuel depletion.During the three-year collaboration, an exclusive selection of Marimekko design products are also available for Finnair customers in in-flight sales and the Finnair Plus Shop.
  "Finnair aircraft will become roving ambassadors of timeless Finnish design and creativity, giving our customers a special experience when they fly with us.” says Mika Vehviläinen, Finnair CEO. Mika Ihamuotila, Marimekko CEO said,“Lately, we have wanted to connect Marimekko’s colorful design and fashion with surprising parties and forms of art, such as ballet, modern dance or visual arts. Now it is time to do something unforeseen up in the sky. I believe that the Marimekko and Finnair design collaboration will bring to hectic and often grey air travel joy, peace of mind and beautiful memories.”
   Another important event of the design weeks was Marimekko Collections' show in Shanghai.It was the most beautiful memory in this trip. The whole show used
professional dancers instead of models to play a modern dancing performance.It wasn't as glamorous as general fashion show,but it was absolutely artistic.Dancing director Jin Xing presented a stylish and passionate performance.It matched Marimekko design spirit perfectly.Of course her character was soooo cool as well!

The east is Red.

   Red in the eastern culture has many different kinds of meanings. As you feel, it could be happiness, love, anger, or evil. In the horror stories, many demons in wear red to attract humans; in the sword movies, many classic roles in red to play poetic scenes. This color is one of the most beautiful and attractive colors ever in eastern or western cultures because of it's connotations and significance. .
   The theme  this time is"The east is Red", which is the name of a classic 90s Hong Kong heroic movie. Perhaps you watched this series, or maybe you still remember those unforgettable scenes and lines. The costume designs of the movie was inspired by traditional eastern Asian style,but the atmosphere of this scene is very similar with the movie " Hero". For a long time red was like a very heroic color in Han's culture.
    Actually this look was taken in Berlin last month, I love the autumn of Europe, fallen leaves made the whole city look like a classical painting. For each different seasons I would love to dress some colors to fade into these amazing surroundings.
    In the end, this look also pays tribute to Amano's "The song of Bird".

Outfit from Vintage collections

Illustration by Nancy.Z

Photography by Dean

 Inspiration 1-Film"The East is Red"(1993)

 Inspiration 2-Movie"Hero" (2000)

Inspiration 3-Short Movie"The song of Bird".