>> The funky, hand knit ski-hats and neck-warmers you see here are 100% American, made in New York City by Liza Yu Chen. The inspiration behind the designs, however, are 100% Chinese.
To understand what I mean, consider Chinese written communications. The West writes word-by-word. Broader meaning is provided by using a word in a sentence, and then the sentence in a paragraph.
Chinese, however, use small, intricate shapes to represent a hundred concepts. A curve, for example, might represent the sun, and the sun, all things that grow. Combine a sun with a peach and you get prosperity and everything related.
This type of symbolic communication makes many Chinese fabulous story tellers and where you have story tellers, you also have fortune tellers. Sensitive Chinese can see the tale in everything, past, present and future.
That said, Liza Yu Chen is very well known for her fashion design and her one-of-a-kind, hand-made ski-hats and knitwear. Each hat forms soft, Chinese calligraphy. Wear them in happiness, prosperity and good health! Best, if you are lucky enough to meet Ms. Chen in her shop, she might spontaneously tell you your future based on a component in your name, plus some other symbol, such as why you selected a specific hat.
Nothing is forced. Ms. Chen interprets the story behind almost everything and those stories build as her ski-hats are constructed. At minimum, when you see a hat you like, ask what it represents. You might be surprised that what you see and the story behind it are two different things.
Of course, no matter what is said, it is the hat story that you intuitively feel that ultimately helps you make your final selection . . .
Spring Gallery is a very small shop just off Bleecker Street. Its walls are lined with handmade hats and cases with small artifacts, such as Chinese jewelry, boxes, metalwork and small statues. Some of these items are one-of-a-kind antiques. Feel free to browse as long as you wish.
Questions or comments?
Karen Little
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About the photos:
1 Liza Yu Chen, New York Designer
2 and 3 Funky ski-hats, handmade knit by Ms. Chen in New York City
4 Handmade knit neck-warmer by Ms. Chen
Spring Gallery
Liza Yu Chen, Designer
116 Mac Dougal Street
Between W. 3rd Street and Bleecker
New York
212 358-1868
www.MysticButterfly.com
Information on Chinese thought systems
The Cosmological Origins of Fengshui
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