LOVE ODYSSEY

CHI LE GE: "SONG OF THE CHI LE"

 -- by Anon (Northern Dynasty) 

The Chi Le plain out spreads by 

Where the Yin Mountain does lie. 

Like a woolen tent hangs the Sky, 

Covering the Wilderness from on high. 

Boundless, the Sky is so blue; 

The Wilderness seems boundless, too. 

Rippling through the pastures, north winds blow; 

The grass bends low, the cattle and sheep, to show. 

Blessed by expansive plains under endless blue skies, Inner Mongolia draws her strength from thousands of years of a majestic cultural heritage. Ever since Angel Chen was introduced to this autonomous region of China, she developed a special bond with its magnificent landscapes, traditional craftmanship and rich local culture. Particularly inspired by the traditional costumes, Angel Chen dedicated her Fall/Winter 2022 Collection, called LOVE ODYSSEY, to Inner Mongolia. The collection unfolds in two chapters: PRESTIGE CEREMONY and EPIC OF SAVANNA. 

PRESTIGE CEREMONY consists of 16 traditional costumes designed by Angel Chen and handmade by local artisans. This respectful series aims to spotlight Inner Mongolian traditional textile craftmanship with intangible exemplars of cultural heritage. 

EPIC OF SAVANNA is a collectible series of looks merging ANGEL CHEN aesthetics and Inner Mongolian cultural heritage. From depictions of the spectacular spirit of galloping horses, the enticement of bonfire flames in the darkness, to local Mongolian calligraphy, paintings and Ku-Ku head pieces, the collection re-imagines the entrenched nomadic and family values of Inner Mongolian culture. 

The collection is rich on plush fabrics and materials: Silk jacquard yarn from Suzhou Huzhou, Song brocade and velvet satin, custom velvet denim, hand-rolled wool felt from Inner Mongolia, brushed cashmere, rare Alxa camel wool and camel velvets. They are the canvas for ANGEL CHEN’s inspiration. In developing this collection, the ANGEL CHEN team formed a meaningful bond with the land and its people and long-term relationships with herdsmen in camel wool production. 

Angel credits key partnerships to help bring this collection to life: American artist Skylar Hertz, mastered turning tapestries and, in a sustainable effort, used coffee bags into pieces of clothing, Chao Lemeng (Vice Chairman of the Inner Mongolia Costume Institute) and Su Tingling (Researcher at the Inner Mongolia Museum) consulted on the production of the traditional costumes. 

LOVE ODYSSEY simultaneously celebrates traditional Chinese craftmanship and its reverential modernity. In re-interpreting traditional Inner Mongolian traditional crafts in a contemporary way, ANGEL CHEN shines at what she does best: showcase eastern heritage and tradition through a modern (and somewhat western) lens. 

Additional notes: 

The collection story line follows the story of a girl who travels all the way from urban city to Inner Mongolia for her grand wedding ceremony. Tradition and modernity meet, eastern and western cultures clash, a new dynamic emerges - energetic and enticing. 

The collection film portrays the journey of the bride from her wedding ceremony to a set of splendid traditional rituals performed in a modernized way; telling a unique perspective of people nowadays, fusing heritage and memories of traditions into the infinite imagination of the future.