Patchwork skirt of silk gauze, designed by Chunghie Lee, South Korea, 2001

Skirt of fine silk gauze patchwork. The garment is entirely made of patches of pastel-coloured silk gauze stitched together asymmetrically. There are several patterned patches where a design of roundels, swastikas, floral trails and other motifs have been created by an open gauze weave. The skirt is double layered with an asymmetric hem. The waistband has two ties, one longer than the other. At one end of the waistband is a sewn-on seal printed in red on a piece of gauze fabric.

The skirt is made of pastel coloured silk gauze, some of which are patterned. It is entirely made of patchwork pieces sewn together using a Korean technique called gekki, where the pieces are sewn together encasing the ends in a sealed flat seam. On this piece the artist also uses her own new technique, whereby a section of seam extends into loose sewing threads. The stitching was made using a machine.

Given by Chunghie Lee

In Korea, patchwork is principally associated with wrapping cloths of various kinds. The textile artist Chunghie Lee, born in 1945, has used patchwork extensively in creating garments. The skirt is made of pastel-coloured silk pieces and its design refers to pre-modern clothing for Korean women. Before the 20th century, indoor wear in Korea consisted of a short jacket combined with a full skirt wrapped around the body and tied below the breasts. Chunghie Lee's skirt is assymetrical in design, and produces a contemporary effect while referring to earlier styles of dress.

FE.137-2002