Beaded Dragon Haori
The Dragon and Phoenix are two of the four magical, spiritual and benevolent animals of Chinese tradition. (The other two are the Tortoise and the Unicorn.) The Dragon represents “the spirit of the way”, and brings eternal change. The Phoenix is reborn from the ashes.
The Dragon represents masculine power – the Emperor. He holds an enormous magical Pearl which has the power to multiply whatever it touches. The Ancients believed the Pearl symbolized the most precious treasure: Wisdom. The Phoenix, or Feng-Huang, is the feminine power, the substance of the flame and personifies the primordial force of the heavens. Together, they represent the Yin and Yang, the Sun and the Moon.
The Beaded Dragon Haori is a melding of cultures. The beaded panel is Chinese. The jacket shape is based on the traditional Japanese kimono-like haori jacket. The beaded panel is embraced with other silks and, inside, are two glorious pockets attached to the lining. They are richly embroidered pieces, fragments of a Ching Dynasty robe. Hand-made corded ties complete this special jacket.
Designer: Randi Hillesø
Photography: Lise Metzger
The Dragon represents masculine power – the Emperor. He holds an enormous magical Pearl which has the power to multiply whatever it touches. The Ancients believed the Pearl symbolized the most precious treasure: Wisdom. The Phoenix, or Feng-Huang, is the feminine power, the substance of the flame and personifies the primordial force of the heavens. Together, they represent the Yin and Yang, the Sun and the Moon.
The Beaded Dragon Haori is a melding of cultures. The beaded panel is Chinese. The jacket shape is based on the traditional Japanese kimono-like haori jacket. The beaded panel is embraced with other silks and, inside, are two glorious pockets attached to the lining. They are richly embroidered pieces, fragments of a Ching Dynasty robe. Hand-made corded ties complete this special jacket.
Designer: Randi Hillesø
Photography: Lise Metzger