KMO_4773

82 WORDS IN A DRESS

Stories of the Blue House

足足一年的「慢針黹部落」旅程,為了這襲亦帳篷亦裙,讓我可和舊朋友繼續並肩,也認識了很多新朋友,讓我穿越了一下子時光機,回到幾十年前的藍屋;隨著病毒遊走於線上線下,親身體驗製作出一件細貨可以有多慢有多窩心。

創作計劃不斷地應變,最後不到一星期竟能從線上招集了四十位有心人,她們的承諾鎮定了我對初次統籌集體創作的動搖,想不到每人只被分配兩種繡花線色和一幅指定的圖案,竟然一一都跳出了我想像的框子,人人花盡心思,在報名時聲稱自己零經驗的更見精彩,除了無一相同的花款,更傳來一篇「活在當下」的後感。

It’s been a year since I started the SLOW STiTCH NOMAD project. To create this unique piece of tent/dress, I reconnected with some old friends and met more new faces. It gave me a chance to travel through the time machine, back to the Blue House decades ago. Throughout that year, I traveled both online and offline due to the pandemic, but still, I managed to immerse myself in the art of trans-fashion and fully experienced how slow and heart-warming it could be to make a fine piece of clothing.

The creative process was dynamic and ever-changing. In less than a week, I was pleasantly surprised to call upon 40 people via the internet to participate in the project, which gave me a much-needed confidence boost as a first-time director of a collective creation. Each person was given embroidery threads in two colors and one designated pattern to sew. I was stunned by what was sent back to me. It was obvious that each participant put their heart and soul into their work. Even someone that claimed to have absolutely no experience in embroidery produced an incredibly fascinating work and even sent in a written remark on “Living in the Present.” 

衣服在今時今日為人帶來的好處,不應是為趕得上隨波逐流,而是在觸摸衣料和穿針引線的過程中的所感所思,還有連繫上這麼遠那麼近的友誼,這是我們一行數十人一起呈現出來的。

藍屋故事和38位參加者的手工刺繡,已被縫紉在由幾十件舊恤衫拼合而成的帳篷裙上,並以舊帳篷支架撐起,由58日至16日在藍屋後園展覽,有時間的話,來一邊聽著老街坊的故事,一邊感受一下我們指尖的溫度吧!

Clothes-making is not about keeping up with trends. What matters are the ideas and inspiration that come along when one puts their hands on the fabric, fingers delicately handling needle and thread, and the connection that is built with your fellows during the creative process.  

The story of the Blue House and the embroidery work of 38 participants have been sewn together onto a tent-dress made of dozens of old shirts, and propped up by the framework from an old tent. It will be exhibited in the courtyard of the Blue House from May 8th to 16th. If you have time, come and feel the warmth from our fingertips and listen to the stories shared by the old neighbors.

最後,讓我用八十二字來作總結:

二零二零,四月開始
新知舊雨,一一相連
過去未來,香港故事
數十舊衣,四十雙手
一年製作,十指窩心
慢針靜黹,思前顧後
每人兩色,無盡變化
一條裙子,一人帳篷
快時尚活不到一瞬間
慢針黹繪藍屋一輩子

望慢針黹牧民繼續開枝散葉,後會有期!

Last but not least, let me summarize the journey in eighty-two Chinese words:

April 2020 marked the beginning of the journey 
Old and new faces, they met and connected
Connecting the past and future, writing the stories of Hong Kong
Dozens of pieces of old clothes, forty pairs of hands
In a year of time, we sewed, stitch by stitch
We took our time, slowly we sewed
Two spools of threads, creating endless possibilities
A dress, or a tent we created
Fast fashion lasts for a moment 
But stories of the Blue House live forever 

May the family of SLOW STiTCH NOMAD continue to grow and explore the world. 

Hope to see you again very soon!

KMO_4675

SLOW STiTCH NOMAD 慢針黹牧民企劃

影片Video

街坊故事錄音Audio stories

Supported by Design Trust & Viva Blue House

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