Rooted in the historical depths of Quanzhou, Yuming Chen’s final collection is an ode to the Maritime Silk Road, where her hometown emerged as a significant starting point. This collection captures the essence of the trade route, utilising materials symbolic of its heritage—fabric, silk yarn, and metal, which are the goods that once journeyed across oceans. The collection is grounded in the preservation of intangible heritage crafts. Through velvet flower making and hot stamping flower making, complemented by wax carving, Yuming Chen connects the warmth of tradition with the finesse of contemporary jewellery design. These techniques, passed down through generations, echo the timeless narrative of cultural exchange.
Nature’s chromatic splendour is well transcribed into her color palette, informing a collection that speaks the language of the natural world encountered along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. The collection features a ring, a brooch, and a innovative designed back decoration, ‘Bei Yun’, which gracefully flows down the wearer’s back, an allusion to historical Chinese adornment. The collection intends to express the synthesis and resonance of diverse cultures along the Maritime Silk Road. By integrating Chinese 24 solar terms, each piece becomes a temporal and cultural symbol, translating ancient rhythms into contemporary expression.
Yuming’s work is a professional testament to cultural confluence, illustrating Quanzhou’s integral role in the Maritime Silk Road. The collection does not only mirror history; it invites the wearer to embark on a voyage where heritage and modernity converge, emphasising the transformative power of cultural exchange.
