ANGEL CHANG, New York, NY Videos

“Indigenous knowledge” may feel like an intimidating word, but it’s easy to understand once you see it applied in daily life. It was actually through fashion where I first understood the term. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ During my first visit to the mountain villages of Guizhou, I was astonished by how chic and stylish the Miao people looked in their traditional costumes. They seemed to dress better than Chinese people I saw living in the big cities, despite being called “backwards” and living in the poorest province of China. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Their sophisticated eye for color surprised me, like using bright orange 🍊 embroidery on indigo-dyed fabric shirt 👕 — which we designers know are complementary colors and brings out the richness in the blue color. 🧵 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This same eye for aesthetics was visible in other ethnic minorities across China that I met (like the Tibetans, Mongolians, and Dong). I learned that this skill for colors and style was passed down from one generation to the next and could be considered indigenous knowledge. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This opened my eyes to learning more about their traditional ways — like how natural plants are used for dyeing + medicine, to what they eat, how they build their homes, and how they view the world. All of this is part of indigenous knowledge. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ One could say indigenous knowledge is the library of how all humans around the world once lived with nature. While we have collectively forgotten it over time, re-learning it will teach us how to live sustainability. It will help us live in balance with nature once again. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Check out my podcast interview at www.timesensitive.fm @time.sensitive @slowdown.tv @spencercbailey

“Indigenous knowledge” may feel like an intimidating word, but it’s easy to understand once you see it applied in daily life. It was through fashion where I first understood what it means. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ During my first visit to the mountain villages of Guizhou, I was astonished by how chic and stylish the Miao people looked in their traditional costumes. They seemed to dress better than people in the big cities, despite being called “backwards” and living in the poorest province of China. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Their sophisticated eye for color surprised me, like using bright orange 🍊 embroidery on indigo-dyed fabric shirt 👕 — which we designers know are complementary colors and brings out the richness in the blue color. 🧵 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This same eye for aesthetics was visible in other ethnic minorities across China that I met (like the Tibetans, Mongolians, and Dong). I learned that this skill for coordinating colors and style was passed down from one generation to the next and could be considered indigenous knowledge. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This opened my eyes to learning more about their traditional ways — like how natural plants are used for dyeing and their medicinal properties, to what they eat, how they build their homes, and how they view the world. All of this is part of indigenous knowledge. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ One could say indigenous knowledge is the library of how all humans once lived with nature. While we have globally forgotten it over time, re-learning it will help us live in balance with nature once again. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Check out my podcast interview @timesensitive @slowdown.tv

In our first podcast episode, @angelchang shares her incredible 9-year journey developing a zero carbon womenswear collection with model activist @cameronrussell. Click link in bio to listen to the full episode and subscribe. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Angel describes her seed-to-button process working without electricity and the magic of working with indigenous artisans. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ She explains the challenge of of unlearning everything she knew as a fashion designer in New York, and learning to live sustainably with the ethnic minority tribes in the remote mountain villages of Guizhou province, rural China. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you've ever wondered what it's like to live off-the-beaten path and work with artisans, this is for you!