This collection includes hats created in Summer 2015. They are inspired by the natural scenes of Brooklyn, New York. I started to use traditional Chinese mineral color to paint the hats and create a unique color palette for them.

Stories and images provided by Echo He, photographer: Manling Wu, English translator: Hansi Liao. All rights reserved by Chapeau Echo.

这些复古礼帽创作于2015年夏季,它们受布鲁克林的自然景观和生活点滴启发。从夏季开始,我尝试用国画矿物颜料给帽子染色,群青、曙红、山青、鹅黄等中国传统的色彩为帽子带来了独特的东方气质。九月初,这些帽子在北京的捌零捌茶室展出。摄影师:吴曼伶。图片版权所有:回声古董帽。

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MIDNIGHT DANCE 午夜之舞

Midnight Dance 午夜舞蹈, 2015. Fabric fascinator base from Fujian, sparkling yarn from New York, vintage ribbon and pearl from New York. 

When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window. Leave someone behind, and you'll meet the one. When we are young, we are vulnerable, but we can dance till the midnight. "Midnight" is customized made for Yinmeng Liu, an active art patron in New York and co-founder of SCREEN, a bilingual media platform to promote media art.

关一道门,开一扇窗,放下一些事,才能遇见新的人。年轻时谁不是伤痕累累,跌倒了,站起来,又能跳舞到天明。“午夜之舞”是给来自纽约的刘茵梦小姐的定制。茵梦生活在纽约,是多媒体艺术平台SCREEN界面的创始人

 


DUANWU 端午

Duanwu 端午, 2015. Cotton fascinator base from Fujian, China; Silk ribbon from New York, Vintage red bean from Morgan O'Hara collection.

I made this hat on the occasion of Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) in 2015, New York. I use black and white ribbon to make Zongzi, sticky rice dumplings traditionally served during Duanwu Festival. The red beans are from my dear friend, artist Morgan O'Hara's collection. They remind me of the moist weather in my hometown, Sichuan province of China. "Duanwu" is a farewell gift to Ara Qiu, a friend from New York who now lives and works in S

 


2015端午做的一顶帽子,黑白丝带做成粽子,小红果来自我的忘年交,艺术家Morgan O'Hara的收藏,有中国南方的记忆。Ara临别之礼,愿保有纽约的记忆


BEFORE SUNSET 日落以前

Before Sunset 日落以前, 2015. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; diamonte veil from London; dusty pink goose feather from London; vintage golden ring from Brooklyn.

 

Before sunset and after dark, birds fall on trees and wander on streets, like falling notes. The hand painted hat base looks like sunset glows in the mid-summer time. "Before Sunset" now belongs to Chaoqiu, a jewelry designer based in New York and Shanghai. Chaoqiu received education in California and New York, and now moves back to Shanghai and starts her own fine jewelry brand - QiuFineJewelry. The fascinator is made for Chaoqiu to wear at dancing parties in Shanghai. There is a vintage jewelry piece from New York, therefore containing the memory of the city.  
日落以前,天黑之后,熙熙攘攘的鸟儿纷纷落下。用中国画颜料手染的一顶帽子,希望表现英国风景画家透納的透明色彩,配一枚在布鲁克林街上找到的金色圆环。给QiuFineJewelry高级珠宝订制工作室的创始人,上海的何超球小姐的定制。


MADAME x X女士

Madame X X女士, 2015. Black cotton fascinator base from Fujian; silk ribbon from New York; vintage pin from New Haven; dot veil from London

 I always want to make a fascinator that is black and white, elegant and simple, like the famous painting Madame X by John Singer Sargent. The vintage pin is found on a trip to New Haven. “Madame X" now belongs to Jing from Beijing.

一直想做一款配小黑裙的帽子,像莎金特笔下的《X女士》,简单的线条和颜色,不会喧宾夺主。配一枚古董胸针,是去纽黑文郊游时偶得。这顶属于北京的Jing.


CORNFLOWER 矢车菊

Cornflower 矢车菊, 2015.7. Cotton facinator base from Fujian; cornflower feather from London; black mesh from Brooklyn; pin from New York.

 

Cornflowers on the hill, have different shadows of blue, dyed by the changing wind. Now it belongs to Yu Che, from Beijing. I met Yu Che in an artist's cafe run by Tehching Hsieh in Brooklyn, New York. We agreed on an art swap. I'll make four hats for Yu Che, in exchange for a customized wood table made by him for the future space of Fou Gallery. 

山坡上的矢车菊,深深浅浅的蓝色,因风染色有不同的温度。现在属于北京的于澈,作为我们艺术交换的一部分。我在纽约布鲁克林台湾艺术家谢德庆开的咖啡厅里偶遇了于澈,并决定用四顶帽子和于澈交换一张他手工打造的,为否画廊未来新空间设计的木桌。


wood 木

Wood 木, 2015.7. Hand painted silk fascinator base; ceiba branch from New York; ivory goose feather from London.

Bombax ceiba, an Asian tropical plant, now immigrates to New York. When a plant travels, does it keep the memory of human beings? "Ceiba" now belongs to Camille Yan, founder of Between Between Art Lab, an alternative space in Shanghai and Beijing. Camille travels frequently among Shanghai, Beijing and Shenyang, because of her love of art and family.

来自中国南方的木棉,却在纽约寻得。植物的旅行,是否也带来人的回忆。现在属于在北京/上海/沈阳不断旅行的玉婷。玉婷是可替代空间Between Art Lab的创始人,因为对艺术和家人的爱穿梭于各地。


JAPANESE POND 日本池塘

Japanese Pond 日本池塘, 2015. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; white veil from London; vintage clover pin from New Haven; hand painted hydrangea and pearl from New York.

"When they gather lotus at Nantang in autumn, the lotus blooms are higher than their head. They stoop to pick lotus seeds. Seeds as translucent as water." The breeze from Japanese pond brings fresh breath to New York and Beijing. The clover vintage pin was found in Brooklyn. "Japanese Pond" now belongs to Li Xiang in Beijing. Although we haven't seen each other for five years, there seems to be no distance between us.

低头弄莲子,莲子清如水。日式庭院的清风和畅,给北京和纽约的夏日带来一丝清凉。三叶草古董胸针来自纽黑文。现属于北京的李响,五年未见仍然一面如故。


SUNSET GLOW 落霞

Sunset Glow 落霞, 2015.8. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; shining yarn from Brooklyn; ivory goose feather from London; umbrella vintage pin from New Haven

Sunset glow appears after the rain. The after lights fall on the Hudson River. The glittering water conceals fish who travels underneath. "Sunset Glow" now belongs to Kiko who resides in Shenzhen and New York. 

雨过之后,有晚霞,余晖落在哈德逊河上,就有波光流动,仿佛鱼群川流不息。“落霞”现属于深圳/纽约的Kiko。


ANGEL'S WING 天使之翼

Angel's Wing 天使之翼, 2015. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; pearl sinamay from London; cornflower blue feather and ostrich spine feather from London; pin from New York.

Experiment on the method that Lee Ufan used in his 70s series "From Point." Paint Klein blue with one brush stroke, from left to right, until the color goes blank. Cornflower blue feather is from London. Now the hat belongs to Camile Yan, founder of Between Art Lab, an alternative space in Beijing and Shanghai.

想尝试李禹焕70年代的《从点》系列的画法,于是做了这一顶。克莱因蓝从左到右,直到颜料用尽。矢车菊蓝的羽毛来自伦敦。现在属于玉婷,Between艺术实验室的创始人。


 KNIGHT 骑士

Knight 骑士, 2015.6. Sinamay fascinator base from London; diamonte veil from London; Ostrich spine feather from London; hand painted flower from Brooklyn, New York.

She is a princess, and a knight. She can be lovely and charming, as well as confident and strong. "Knight" is now with Lan from Chengdu, the persistent sunshine in my life.

既是公主,也是骑士。既可逗逼妩媚,又可庄静自强。《骑士》属于成都的小岚,我生命里持续的晴天和阳光。


GOLDEN ROSE 金色玫瑰

Golden Rose 金色玫瑰, 2015.7. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; blue veil from London; silk ribbon from New York; vintage rose pin from New Haven.

 

Shall I compare thee to a Summers day. A Summers day when the sun has not yet rose. A Summers day when the rose petals still have teardrops from last night. When the sun rises, the golden rose blossoms, today will be as pleasant as yesterday. "Golden rose" now belongs to Meixi Fu from Chengdu.

我可否将汝比作一个夏日;太阳尚未升起的夏日清晨,玫瑰花瓣尚有昨夜未干的泪痕。白日开始,金色玫瑰绽放,今日和昨日一样欢畅。“金色玫瑰”现属于成都的Meixi.

 


RAIN DROP 雨落

Raindrop 雨落, 2015. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; ostrich spine feather from London; blue and white ribbon from Brooklyn.

When the rain drops, the fragrance rose from the river bank. When the water falls, the moss emerges from the stone. "Raindrop" now belongs to Lu Biao from Beijing, the founder of 808 Teahouse, to memorize our friendship from virtual space to real life.

雨过汀芳,水落石绿。“雨落”属于北京捌零捌茶间的陆飚先生,纪念网络时代难得的从虚拟到现实的友情。


CEIBA 木棉

Ceiba 木棉, 2015. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; ceiba branch from New York; Ostrich spine feather from London; shining yarn from Brooklyn; Swarovski crystal chain from New York.

”She has gathered with her lily fingers; A lily fair and rare to see. Oh! sweeter still the fragrance lingers; From the warm hand that gave it me." (Excerpt from The Odes of Confucius). "Ceiba" now belongs to Ms. Zhao Ran from Chengdu.

"自牧归荑,洵美且异。匪女之为美,美人之贻。“(《诗经.邶风.静女》)”木棉“现属于成都的然儿小姐。


TRACE 痕

Trace 痕, 2015.7. Hand painted silk fascinator base; hand painted cherry from New York; lagoon goose feather from London; vintage flower from New York.


The trace of a flower is the kiss from the sun; The trace of a leaf is the kiss from the rain; the trace of a cloud is the kiss from the bird; the trace of a thing is the kiss from the time. “Trace" now belongs to Sarah from New York,

花之痕是阳光留下的吻,叶之痕是雨水留下的吻,云之痕是鸟儿留下的吻,物之痕是时间留下的吻。"痕”现在属于纽约的Sarah.


FIELD 原野

Field 原野, 2015. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; white loose feather from London; vintage daisy from Boston; pearl from New York.

The vintage flowers were found in an antique book store in Boston. The color of pale blue can also be seen in the chrysanthemum blossom in the field. Every single flower is unique. When they come together, there is another sense of beauty, the beauty of the land.

The vintage flowers were found in an antique book store in Boston. The color of pale blue can also be seen in the chrysanthemum blossom in the field. Every single flower is unique. When they come together, there is another sense of beauty, the beauty of the land. Now "Field" belongs to Holly Pan in New York. It's a wedding gift from her friends in college, Xiao'ao and Yangxian.

在波士顿的旧书店偶遇一束旧花,淡蓝的色泽像原野上的野菊。每一朵花,既有旁逸斜出的美,又有作为整体一部分的美,那是属于大地的美。现属于纽约的Holly PAN,是Holly的好友小傲和养贤送给她的结婚礼物。和养贤认识于2010年,由于在北大进行的一个最终并未发表的访谈项目。我后来毅然地从商科转向艺术,很多在商学院时发起的项目最终没有完成,然而通过这些访谈认识的人,后来以另外的方式出现在彼此的生命中。从更大的意义上,我们始终相连,通过原野,通过自然。


MISS S S小姐

Miss S S小姐, 2015. Hand painted cotton fascinator base; irovy sinamay from London; white loose feather dusty pink goose feather from London; lady face pin from New York.

Miss S is a good friend of me. She has short hair, bright eyes and a strong passion for food and art. She believes in intuition and maintains curiosity to the undiscovered beauty of the world. One day I found a doll pin at Garment District in New York and it looks very much like Miss S. Therefore, I decide to make a hat, for girl who has wild dream.

S小姐是我的好朋友,男孩般短发,闪亮眼睛,热爱美食和艺术,相信灵感,对世界有强烈好奇心。在纽约Garment District偶然发现了一枚娃娃首饰,看起来很像S小姐,于是决定做一顶帽子,给古怪爱做梦的姑娘。


BALTIMORE ROSE 巴尔的摩玫瑰

Baltimore Rose 巴尔的摩玫瑰, 2014. Vintage hat base from Baltimore; ivory veil from London.

The white rose vintage hat base was found in Baltimore, during a trip to visit Linda Meyer. The veil was broken but I still brought it home. It has stayed with me for four years. Finally I decided to restore it with new veiling and give it a new life. Now it belongs to Ms. Wang from Zhuzhou, Hunan province, China.

2011年刚来美国时,去巴尔的摩拜访Linda,和她逛街时淘来一顶50年代的古董帽,上面都是白色的玫瑰。面纱有点坏掉了,但我爱不释手,还是决定带回家,一直做装饰,没有机会戴。直到后来开始做帽子,才修复了这一顶,赋予它新生命。现属于湖南株洲的王姑娘。


BOUQUET 花束, 2015

Bouquet 花束, 2015.6. Cotton fascinator base from Fujian; hand painted flower from New York; yarn from Brooklyn.


The bouquet of May, blossoms at the prosperous moment and retains its beauty day and night. The happy moments seem to never end. Pick up a bouquet of white flower, for oneself, or one's beloved. "Bouquet" now  belongs to Sherry Liang in Beijing.

五月之花束,开于最繁盛之时。日夜更迭,欢乐的时光好像没有终结。选一束白色捧花,给自己,以及自己珍视的人.  ”花束“现属于北京的梁小姐。