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For June Kimberley Lau, the designer behind Novel and winner of Lane Crawford’s The Next New 2016, this year has been a particularly rewarding one and this Christmas will be a time of gratitude for her family and friends.
This was the year she started Novel, based on the idea of creating art pieces that can be worn. Her first line of “pocket art” - pocket squares that uniquely captures the essence and beauty of butterfly wings through the Chinese art of double-sided embroidery - takes inspiration from the process of metamorphosis.
“Double-sided embroidery is a traditional art form passed down from many generations. This type of embroidery is a dying tradition, which is incredibly unbelievable and breathtaking. The technique requires patience, time and years of experience to master. These days, it is just used to create souvenirs and key chains for tourist souvenirs,” she explains. “Local masters from Suzhou are losing their jobs from the declining demand and so I’ve made it a social mission to provide these embroidery masters with regular income in a more profound and creative way.” This handcrafted process produces one-of-a-kind pieces that simply cannot be replicated by a machine.
“The hand painting produces a unique style of which is dependent on the painter, giving motion to the wings and allowing Lau to finish each piece like no other.”
Novel’s miniature artworks draw parallels between the whimsical story of the butterfly and a blossoming romance and are the perfect gift for couples; while only part of the image is revealed to the world from the top of the pocket, only the wearer will know the full story.
“A modern family is one that adapts each other’s flaws and accepts them for who they are. One that shares happiness and wine.”
Lau’s family has been a bedrock of support over the last year. “My little family of three consists of my step-dad who is my hero and rock, and my mum who supports me through the thick and thin, has taught me forgiveness and grace, and is the most caring mother that I will forever be learning from.”
Family, love and the preservation of a time-honoured craft are central to Novel, and nothing could be more fitting at this magical time of year.
