THE CANADIAN BORN DESIGNER OF
SINGAPOREAN-BORN BRAND,
LISA VON TANG SHARES HER
PERSONAL ESSAY EXCLUSIVELY
WITH BAZAAR.
By Elyza Khamil
“This is a journey back in time” writes Lisa, designer of
Singaporean-born label Lisa Von Tang in a personal essay about the
‘5 Elements‘ collection that was debuted in Kuala Lumpur.
A collection that was created by Lisa’s very own re-connection
back to Mother Nature, the 5 Elements scent line dives into the
primal forces and has five fragrances representing: Earth,
Fire, Water, Metal, and Wood.
Singaporean-born label Lisa Von Tang in a personal essay about the
‘5 Elements‘ collection that was debuted in Kuala Lumpur.
A collection that was created by Lisa’s very own re-connection
back to Mother Nature, the 5 Elements scent line dives into the
primal forces and has five fragrances representing: Earth,
Fire, Water, Metal, and Wood.
The luxe-streetwear brand is
known for spreading
the message of
empowerment
through creating designs from a
medley of textiles and excess sustainable fabrics that feature
Western and Chinese designs and has been seen on celebrities
that include Cara Delevigne, Mick Jagger, Adriana Lima, and Eve.
Debuting her first fragrance collection at CÉ LA VI,
Kuala Lumpur where Lisa Von Tang presented an
ethereal performance art show that stemmed back to the inspiration
of the collection and the need for humanity to be more
environmentally conscious. The launch included an
interactive section where guests could discover their Chinese
element and horoscope according to their birth dates.
The 5 Elements Scent Collection
To reduce the environmental impact, the manufacturing
of the scent and its packaging was kept local. The label also supports
local environmental NGOs with each bottle sold.
In Kuala Lumpur, Lisa Von Tang teamed up with
Rebekah Yeoh‘s social enterprise, Recyclothes due to their
promotion of sustainable living through recycling clothing. Click through
to check out what went down at the launch and to discover
the 5 Elements collection:
Lisa further explains the inspiration of the collection in a
personal essay she shared with BAZAAR:
This is a journey back in time – Millenia ago, when all
peoples of the Earth worshiped Nature. The Louvre in Abu Dhabi
does a great job in exploring this period, pre-3,000 BC,
with relics carefully uncovered from the majority of
humanity’s recorded existence. This was before Christianity.
Before Islam. Before Judaism.
We existed for millions of years before the concept of
worshiping “one male god only” was conceived.
Courtesy
From China, to India, to Greece, to the Americas –
all of the earliest civilisations held
Mother Earth in the highest regard. We lived, breathed,
honoured, and were a part of nature.
Our ancestors were all wild pagans – every race of us.
Starhawk explains this sacred connection:
“IN AN ANCIENT WORLD IN WHICH EVERYTHING
A PERSON ATE, TOUCHED OR USED CAME LITERALLY
FROM THE LAND AROUND THEM, HUMANS
INDEED WERE PART OF THE LAND IN A DEEP
INTEGRATION WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE.”
Gods and Goddesses took the forms of the most beautiful and
awe-inspiring things humans saw around them:
In Hawaii, there was Pele, Goddess of the Volcano.
In coastal China, Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea took prominence.
In Eleusis, once the most fertile plain in Greece, she was
Demeter, Goddess of grain.
There was Zeus, the stunning God of Thunder and Lightning.
In hot Egypt, there was Ra the Sun God.
What we called Goddess or God was actually the face
and voice that people gave to the way the land spoke to them.
What a gorgeous compliment to the creation around us.
I wonder these days, have we forgotten to
appreciate the nature that use to inspire the highest levels of holiness?
This passage by Eddy Berkovits perfectly captures how
I feel as well when I take refuge in forest walks:
“Yesterday I came to you, and filled my eyes
with your splendour. You breathed life into my body, you
nourished my soul. You let me walk through your realm,
my footprints marking my journey.
Yesterday, I brought you nothing and you gave me all.”
As an artist, I appreciate design as the core of existence.
I live to create beauty, to find beauty, and to savour it.
And I will never be able to find man-made beauty that is as
gripping, poignant, exquisitely detailed, and surprising in its
random genius, than that of Nature. She trumps all.
So can we stop bringing Nature nothing, while
she gives us everything? The 5 Elements Collection
has been designed to re-inspire your connection to Gaia, Mother Earth.
"GAIA, AS YOU AWAKEN, I HEAL MYSELF.
AS I AWAKEN, YOU ARE HEALED." -MAYAN PROVERB
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