‘Tea silk’ – a Chinese custom becomes international fashion’, an RASBJ talk by Kathrin von Rechenberg, with Q&A. December 16th
WHAT: “‘Tea silk’ – a Chinese custom becomes international fashion'”, an RASBJ talk by Kathrin von Rechenberg, with Q&A.
This is an in-person talk in Beijing, free and for RASBJ members only. Afterwards you may wish to meet informally with RASBJ members and council over dinner and drinks at Qianmen Kitchen across the street*. Their phone is 185-0129-1756 and menu PDF is attached at this link; you are welcome to make reservations before the event.
WHEN: Dec. 16, 2020 Wed. from 19:00-20:00 Beijing Standard Time
WHERE: Rechenberg Art Couture, N. 112 Xixinglongjie Dongcheng, Beijing 北京市东城区西兴隆街112号
MORE ABOUT THE EVENT: China is the world’s foremost silk producer. The fabric that originated in the Middle Kingdom also became its top export item — and an unalienable part of Chinese culture for centuries. Even today, every Chinese schoolkid knows the differences between the seven main types of this wondrous natural material. One outstanding type is what we commonly call “tea silk”, produced and completely naturally dyed in Shunde, Guangdong Province. What gives this silk the evocative name of “fragrant cloud organza” (Xiangyunsha 香云纱)? In order to learn this, we will dive into the laborious traditions of processing it, into the story of this intriguing fabric throughout the history of China and into the secrets of its beauty.
MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Kathrin von Rechenberg was born in Munich, and after her tailor apprenticeship studied at the Paris Couture School ‘L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne’. She gained experience in such renowned Couture Houses as Jacques Fath, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Chanel and Jean-Louis Scherrer. In 2000 she moved to China in search of “tea silk”, which became the cornerstone of her collection. For her 20 years of dedication to tea silk, in 2020 Kathrin von Rechenberg was awarded the title of “Friendship Ambassador for Textile Intangible Cultural Heritage” by the China National Textile and Apparel Council and, recently, “Tea Silk Ambassador” by the Guangdong Tea-Silk Association.
HOW MUCH: This in-person talk is free and open only to members of RASBJ. If you know someone who wants to join the RASBJ, ask them to sign up via the membership section of our website, https://rasbj.org/membership/ before 19:00 Friday Dec. 11. (*At Qianmen Kitchen, both members and non-members are welcome; each person will order and pay for their own refreshments.)
HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT: E-mail [email protected] with your full name by 19:00 Friday Dec. 11. If the event is over-subscribed you’ll be placed on a waiting list.
