Like books, Guo Pei’s couture gowns have names, and they contain stories. Palace Flowers, for instance, is a 2012 piece that features 5,500 silk peonies, and the Beijing-born designer tells us a tale about these delicate blossoms that is simply enchanting.
Chinese artisans used to shape and paint such silk flowers by hand, and her maternal grandmother had worn some in her hair on her wedding day. During the Cultural Revolution, which started in 1966 and lasted a decade, she threw away all her jewellery and fine clothes for fear of being persecuted. But she kept her silk flowers, and when Guo was a good girl, her grandmother would let her have a glimpse of them. “I was never able to find out where she hid the flowers,” the couturier tells us as she gives us a tour of the Guo Pei: Chinese Art & Couture exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). “Looking at them was a gift I really cherished.”
Many years later, when she started asking around for craftsmen to teach her the technique of making these flowers, Guo realised that the trade no longer existed. But someone who used to own one of these artisan workshops pointed her to a warehouse that still stored some of these handcrafted blossoms.
Bu hikaye Singapore Tatler dergisinin September 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Singapore Tatler dergisinin September 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Louder Than You Think
It might not shout about itself, but among the world’s most influential people, Brunello Cucinelli is everywhere. Its co‑chairman and co‑creative director Carolina Cucinelli shares why the Italian brand’s high‑end ubiquity is built on its rock‑solid values
A New Era
La Prairie unveils the first product from its new collection, the Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, an innovative creation that represents a new chapter in luxury skincare for those seeking to maintain healthy skin
Revolutionising Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is the future of healthcare, according to Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association CEO Harjit Gill. Ahead of its Asia Pacific MedTech Forum 2024, she outlines how a digitally driven healthcare system can improve access and outcomes for all
REBIRTH RENEWAL REWARD
Renowned artist Nari Ward gives Tatler a peek into his Harlem studio as he prepares for his solo exhibition in Seoul
Blurring Lines, Breaking Boundaries
Cartier’s creative director of jewellery and watches Marie-Laure Cérède on the maison’s commitment to creating statement-making timepieces for discerning luxury consumers
Tan Yin Ling
The co‑founder of Cloop on how her social enterprise is closing the loop on Singapore’s fashion waste
THE World IS YOUR Oyster
Tatler gets a taste of the luxe nomadic life aboard the world’s most exclusive residential ship as it sails from South Korea to Japan
HAUTE HOTELS
Find out where designers, models and fashionistas stay during Fashion Week
RAISING THE STEAKS
Hanwoo, Korea’s native beef, is celebrated not only for its flavourful meat but also its rich history and deep cultural significance. We explore the qualities and traditions that make Hanwoo a national treasure—and why the rest of the world needs to know about it
The Fashion Centennial
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Loro Piana looks back on its legacy of exceptional fabrics, textile innovation and savoir faire in its fall‑winter 2024‑2025 women’s and men’s collections