"This is a journey back in time" writes Lisa, designer of Singaporean-born label Lisa Von Tang in a personal essay about the '5 Elements' collection that was debuted in Kuala Lumpur. A collection that was created by Lisa's very own re-connection back to Mother Nature, the 5 Elements scent line dives into the primal forces and has five fragrances representing: Earth, Fire, Water, Metal, and Wood.
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The luxe-streetwear brand is known for spreading the message of empowerment through creating designs from a medley of textiles and excess sustainable fabrics that feature Western and Chinese designs and has been seen on celebrities that include Cara Delevigne, Mick Jagger, Adriana Lima, and Eve.
Debuting her first fragrance collection at CÉ LA VI, Kuala Lumpur where Lisa Von Tang presented an ethereal performance art show that stemmed back to the inspiration of the collection and the need for humanity to be more environmentally conscious. The launch included an interactive section where guests could discover their Chinese element and horoscope according to their birth dates.
The 5 Elements Scent Collection
To reduce the environmental impact, the manufacturing of the scent and its packaging was kept local. The label also supports local environmental NGOs with each bottle sold. In Kuala Lumpur, Lisa Von Tang teamed up with Rebekah Yeoh's social enterprise, Recyclothes due to their promotion of sustainable living through recycling clothing.
Click through to check out what went down at the launch and to discover the 5 Elements collection:
The performance art show depicting the element of metal
Lisa further explains the inspiration of the collection in a personal essay she shared with BAZAAR:
This is a journey back in time – Millenia ago, when all peoples of the Earth worshipped Nature. The Louvre in Abu Dhabi does a great job in exploring this period, pre-3,000 BC, with relics carefully uncovered from the majority of humanity’s recorded existence. This was before Christianity. Before Islam. Before Judaism. We existed for millions of years before the concept of worshipping “one male god only” was conceived.
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From China, to India, to Greece, to the Americas – all of the earliest civilisations held Mother Earth in the highest regard. We lived, breathed, honoured, and were a part of nature. Our ancestors were all wild pagans – every race of us. Starhawk explains this sacred connection:
“IN AN ANCIENT WORLD IN WHICH EVERYTHING A PERSON ATE, TOUCHED OR USED CAME LITERALLY FROM THE LAND AROUND THEM, HUMANS INDEED WERE PART OF THE LAND IN A DEEP INTEGRATION WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE.”
Gods and Goddesses took the forms of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring things humans saw around them: In Hawaii, there was Pele, Goddess of the Volcano. In coastal China, Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea took prominence. In Eleusis, once the most fertile plain in Greece, she was Demeter, Goddess of grain. There was Zeus, the stunning God of Thunder and Lightning. In hot Egypt, there was Ra the Sun God.
What we called Goddess or God was actually the face and voice that people gave to the way the land spoke to them. What a gorgeous compliment to the creation around us. I wonder these days, have we forgotten to appreciate the nature that use to inspire the highest levels of holiness?
This passage by Eddy Berkovits perfectly captures how I feel as well when I take refuge in forest walks: “Yesterday I came to you, and filled my eyes with your splendour. You breathed life into my body, you nourished my soul. You let me walk through your realm, my footprints marking my journey. Yesterday, I brought you nothing and you gave me all.”
As an artist, I appreciate design as the core of existence. I live to create beauty, to find beauty, and to savour it. And I will never be able to find man-made beauty that is as gripping, poignant, exquisitely detailed, and surprising in its random genius, than that of Nature. She trumps all.
So can we stop bringing Nature nothing, while she gives us everything? The 5 Elements Collection has been designed to re-inspire your connection to Gaia, Mother Earth.
"GAIA, AS YOU AWAKEN, I HEAL MYSELF. AS I AWAKEN, YOU ARE HEALED." -MAYAN PROVERB
Lisa Von Tang will be opening at Starhill Gallery in March 2019.
