marlies|dekkers


			The first time you visit a port like Hong Kong or Shanghai is often an overwhelming experience, especially when dusk settles in over the harbor. Every night there’s a light show that you have to have seen. In Hong Kong this show is called the Symphony of Lights and all of the big companies appear to partake. The elaborate lighting schemes from the buildings on the embankments and the bright neon colors from the boats and yachts create a magical sight. Marlies has created a similar experience with the brightly colored lotus flowers and humming birds that can be found in the print and the ‘wings’ on the straps. These elements create an exciting contrast against the violet colored base of this set, a true Symphony of Lights.


		In the ‘20s and ‘30s of the 20th Century Shanghai was considered the Paris of the Far East. Both English and French influence was felt greatly and it turned the metropolis into an exciting melting pot of Eastern and Western influences. Shanghai was mundane, decadent and sexy. This sultry atmosphere can be found in the vintage Shanghai Lady pictures of those days: pictures of elegant, beautiful young ladies who could be found on all advertisements around Shanghai. They were chic, sexy and just a tad unattainable. Feel like a Lady from Shanghai yourself.


	This collection’s bamboo pattern was based on 10th Century Japanese folktale entitled: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The tale is about a husband and wife who find a tiny girl inside of a stalk of bamboo. The bamboo cutter and his wife raise the girl like their own child. Five princes come and ask for her hand in marriage, but it turns out that the beautiful Kaguya is the princess of the moon.


	The dark blue blossom and butterfly embroideries in this light blue collection are inspired by the beautiful handy work that adorns kimono’s. The butterfly symbolizes budding love and the blossoms are of great symbolic importance, both in China and in Japan. In Japan the blossom stands for beauty and the shortness of our existence; for it only blossoms briefly. In China it mainly symbolizes the beauty and power of a woman.


	This collection's bamboo pattern was based on 10th Century Japanese folktale entitled: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The tale is about a husband and wife who find a tiny girl inside of a stalk of bamboo. The bamboo cutter and his wife raise the girl like their own child. Five princes come and ask for her hand in marriage, but it turns out that the beautiful Kaguya is the princess of the moon.


	If you spend the night in a Far East Hotel, chances are you’re going to find a talisman on your pillow. These little animal figurines made from silk yarn are said to bring good fortune. This superstition is an important sentiment in the Far East that has to be taken very seriously. The black and red ornaments that adorn this collection bring you good luck as well. This talisman’s butterfly stands for love and the color red is the color of good luck in China: lucky in love!


		In the 17th century the VOC imported, from China, tens of thousands of pieces of the typical blue and white porcelain, that became a huge hit with the rich Dutch citizens and the rest of Europe. Soon after the Dutch, when they had copied the Chinese techniques, produced their own blue white porcelain. The illustrations of the Delftware bowls, pots, vases and plates consisted out of the homely and scenes from the Bible. Something you can see in this Blue & White China collection, with a slightly naughty twist…


	In 1991 the Chinese director Zhang Yimou mesmerized the cinema’s public around the whole world with the images of the movie Raise the Red Lantern. Songlian, a young woman, is in love with a singer from the Beijing Opera, but is married off as the third wife of a rich landlord Chen. Every night Chen chooses one woman by hanging a red lantern in front of the house of his choice. The red with pink print of the lanterns, the Swarovski stones and metal lantern ornaments refer to the red lantern, which played such an important role in the drama of the master and his four wives.


	One of the most beautiful Buddhist temples of the Far East, situated in the North of Thailand, near the city Chiang Rai. Built to honour the purity of the Buddha, decorated with fierce dragons on the outside, and covered in western comic strip super heroes on the inside. Elements of dragon scales, the radiant white and the shiny silver ornaments are all present in the White Temple collection.


		The term for a female ninja: Japanese spy that, alongside her martial arts, uses illusion, tricks and psychology. They were used because of their ingenuity and silent manner of working. Disguises, camouflage, poison, archery and sword fighting were their specialities. This nude and neon collection, combined with punky flowery lace and black leather wouldn’t be unbecoming of a present day ninja. Go Kunoichi!


	In the year 2000 the Taiwanese / American director Ang Lee surprised everyone with his masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a Mandarin spoken martial arts film, with which he won four Academy Awards, the sword fighting lady warriors and the amazing choreography of the movie made a lasting impression. This black satin collection is an ode to the elegant fighters of the groundbreaking film classic.