In the past, dragon and phoenix motifs could only be found in souvenirs, furniture or antique ceramics, but recently it is different. They appear more and more in everyday life – on everyday fashion items, home decorations or household appliances, from only a few hundred thousand to a few million, with simple online purchases or shopping. In interior decoration, fashion, souvenir shops (even craft village tourism centers), buyers can own an item printed with this pattern.
Fashion consumers are increasingly practical
Ms. Chu Thu Quynh (VIB Bank, Hanoi) said that fashion items and jewelry simulating or printed with dragon and phoenix motifs attract her because of their uniqueness and personality. Although it is quite picky, if carefully chosen it will satisfy the user’s basic fashion needs, making them possess an appearance that is difficult to blend.
“Among thousands of modern items, classic beauty, rich in cultural elements, and rich in traditional art has the advantage. An item with antique motifs is synchronized with ancient costumes or has a feeling of Ancient inspiration is also a way to increase the value of culture, art, and fashion aesthetics of each person,” said Ms. Thu Quynh.
The rich and diverse market of products printed or simulating ancient motifs such as dragons and phoenixes is divided into two distinct segments, high-end and lower-end. In the high-end market, the price of each item is up to tens of millions of dong, whether it is a handicraft product, jewelry, fashion or accessory, all handmade on sustainable or expensive materials.
In the lower segment, designs and goods are equally diverse. A dragon-shaped silver ring costs only a few hundred thousand dong. A stone pendant (actually stone powder) shaped like a dragon costs only tens of thousands of dong. They are produced semi-manually (molding, molding by machine, grinding, re-carving by hand) and a few are completely machine-made.
Coming from both handicraft and handicraft workshops, these items are present all over the market, with more and more not only attracting tourists from other parts of Asia but also Currently, the trend of favoring Asian folk culture is increasingly strong
Traditional connection
More than trends, dragon and phoenix images also appear in many other non-image fields and also attract young people and many other members of the social community.
Dragon-patterned leather bags are popular with high-income consumers
Dragon-shaped versions or “styles” of European and American dragons are easy to combine with modern outfits. In many styles, it is also one of the factors that makes ancient motifs closer to everyday fashion life.
It’s clear that the patterns on the clog straps have made a very popular fashion item, the wooden clog, classier and more luxurious.
Designer Thu Trang (founder of fashion brand Laheris) said: “The return of ancient motifs such as dragons and phoenixes originates and is fueled by the popularity of traditional inspiration in popular culture. It is not only found in the fields of design but also in other fields such as music, television… Folk materials with typical ancient motifs such as dragons and phoenixes are exploited to create trends towards tradition. strong system”.
“As part of policies to encourage and preserve cultural heritage, dragon and phoenix symbols have become even more impressive. Many designers have taken traditional national culture as a foundation for innovation to create many versions. Creativity is why products printed or simulating dragon and phoenix images are closer to life, more realistic, and easier to apply,” Ms. Thu Trang commented.
Quoc Mau Au Co silk scarf with dragon and Mother Au Co motifs is very popular with young people
Ms. Phan Lan Anh, Co-founder of La’Artisan brand shared: “As society develops, the economy is stable, and there are more choices, people begin to pay attention to the need to express their ego. Most consumers want to return to their ‘roots’. That root can be minimalism but it can also be national tradition. Gone are the words ‘luxury like the West’ or similar, for many consumers Especially today’s young people want something more unique, more impressive, promoting nationality and culture and want to use it to express their ego more.”
