Blinera Morina & Phuong Quynh Le Chu - Hochschule Niederrhein

TANGLED: Following the Threads of Culture – Hochschule Niederrhein

PARTICIPATION IN THE BEST GRADUATES SHOW AND NOMINATED FOR THE NEO.FASHION. AWARD

TANGLED: Following the Threads of Culture explores cultural identity, traditional craftsmanship, and the fusion of cultural influences with contemporary design. This intercultural collection is conceived as a creative dialogue between Albanian and Vietnamese cultures. The collection began with the question of how cultural elements can be respectfully translated into a modern design context without losing their cultural significance or committing cultural appropriation. 

The collection is based on intensive research into traditional clothing styles, historical silhouettes, textile techniques, and cultural symbolism. In particular, the commonalities within craftsmanship, construction, and cultural aesthetics formed the foundation of the creative process. Traditional elements were analyzed, abstracted, and deliberately translated into modern constructions, materials, and contemporary proportions. 

The six looks navigate the tension between structure and movement, past and present, and tradition and innovation. Artisanal details, textile surfaces, and deliberate constructions serve not only as design elements but also as a visible expression of cultural identity and cultural connection. 

At the heart of it all is a creative dialogue that does not blend or distort cultural influences, but rather reveals their origins and builds upon them with respect. The result is a collection that does not imitate cultural heritage, butrather translates it into a contemporary design context. 

TANGLED views fashion as more than just an aesthetic product. TANGLED demonstrates how cultural diversity becomes innovation when one listens, researches, and takes responsibility. For our goal is to use fashion as a medium to foster dialogue, preserve craftsmanship, and make cultural identity visible. 

For us, fashion has always been more than just clothing; it is an expression of identity, heritage, and personal history. What began as a shared passion for design has evolved into a cultural dialogue shaped by our personal experiences within the diaspora. As designers with Albanian and Vietnamese backgrounds, we engage deeply with identity, belonging, and the question of how cultural influences can be respectfully translated into a contemporary context. 

Blinera Morina brings Albanian cultural influences into the dialogue, while Phuong Quynh Le Chu contributes the Vietnamese perspective. Together, through design, we create a space where cultural connection, craftsmanship, and modern perspectives converge. 

“For me, fashion is a way to make cultural identity visible and to translate traditional craftsmanship into a contemporary context.” — Blinera Morina 

“Design becomes meaningful to me when cultural identity remains visible while simultaneously creating space for new perspectives.” — Phuong Quynh Le Chu 

Model: Helene Nusch @helene.nusch 

Foto: Phuong Quynh Le Chu I Blinera Morina