Erjie Du

For my capstone project, I would like to focus on three key themes: self-love, self-identity. Based on the themes, I get lots of inspiration from Zhou Dunyi’s famous essay, “Ai Lian Shuo” (On the Love of the Lotus), and the metaphor of “transforming from a cocoon into a butterfly.” Both represent self-discovery, growing up under hard situations, and keeping pure, which fits with my themes of self-love and self-identity. The main garment I would like to work on is Yunjian, a traditional accessory called cloud collar or cloud shoulder. It is usually worn on the shoulder or top of the neck. In my design, Yunjian represents protection, inclusion, and personal identity. I chose to work on this accessory because it is around the shoulder. When people hug someone, they will feel secure and comfortable. I hope this design can bring more warmth and protection. I added Ronghua, a handicraft of China’s intangible cultural heritage for decoration. I want to make a Yunjian that is not only a decoration but also represents the heritage of art and ancient aesthetics.