Beijing folk
Scarf It Down Liu He, designer by Max Wu
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zephyr is a mild, lovely breeze from the west – the herald of springtime that all Beijingers are probably dreaming of right now. How fitting, then, that scarf designer Liu He has named her brand Zephyr: because she’s bringing us light and fluttery wisps with a Western influence and the vivid colors of springtime. Did you have a kaleidoscope as a child? Yes, how strange that you’ve mentioned it. My latest design involves kaleidoscope patterns – it looks like the dome in a church, inspiring and calm. Pucci or Hermes? I like Pucci because it puts me in a good mood and I feel good about myself when I wear it.
What’s the greatest number of scarves you’ve worn at one time? Three. I used two as the panels of a dress and another as a belt to tie them together. Some people tie three or more together as a necklace, but this damages the scarves – you have to iron them afterwards – so I’m not recommending it. Is it still a scarf if you wear it as a dress? Why not? When you create a look with a scarf, you know that no one else in the crowd has the same look. There is so much potential with scarves, unlike bags or sunglasses. can’t
“you just use it as a napkin”
Do you think scarves help people conceal things? No, they’re not like sunglasses. Do you take inspiration from Beijing? Not in my first collection – I finished those designs while I was still in Europe. But I’m catching up to the Beijing flavor little by little. In the upcoming collection, there will be something with Beijing influence for sure.
PHOTO: sui
pollution but either way it’s weird.
What is the oddest way you’ve seen people wearing scarves? I’ve seen people in China wearing them as facial masks, Taliban-style. Maybe it has something to do with protecting the face from the cold or
If you could only design using shades of a single color, which would it be? International Klein Blue. [A shade resembling electric ultramarine, named for the artist Yves Klein. –Ed.] In what scenario is it not proper to wear a scarf? When you’re eating a lot of food. Scarves need to be cared for properly – you can’t just use it as a napkin. How do Chinese and Westerners differ when they shop for scarves? In Europe, people tend to buy pieces with low-key elegance. In China, most go for bright and shiny. See Liu He’s Zephyr collection at www.ymall.com/st4439005.
January 2013
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