Ziyao Xiao

About

For my final postgraduate project, I explored how old objects carry emotions and memories, focusing on the theme of the “l Silent ” housewife. By collecting old textiles like handmade woven fabrics and crocheted lace, I felt the delicate emotions and patience of women who created these pieces. At the project’s start, I made a handmade book in the shape of a vase silhouette, drawing inspiration from early 20th-century working women, 19th-century imported lace, and Chinese folk textiles. These elements, combined with my personal experiences, shaped the project.

Focusing on women as the majority of unpaid laborers, I chose old clothes and a vase as core elements. Old cloth, woven by women before marriage, symbolizes the emotions and memories between mothers and daughters, while the vase symbolizes “quietness” in Chinese, alluding to silent domestic duties. Garment silhouettes were inspired by traditional Chinese marriage vases, with designs subtly hiding the vase structure. Techniques included folding, cutting, and pressing to create naturally draped dresses, new pleats, and unique silhouettes, all based on traditional working women’s attire.

To emphasize “silent women,” I used laces and soft buttons, avoiding noisy zippers and hard buttons. By designing continuous draw pleats, I transformed these fabrics into garments, using the body to perceive and present repetitive motions. I aimed to engage the audience in the garment-making process, fostering emotional meaning. Additionally, I reconstructed second-hand crocheted lace into new pieces, giving new life to materials with historical memory. This project visualizes narrative stories, hoping to evoke reflection on mother-daughter relationships and women’s daily dedication and resilience.