My first look was inspired by the Mahayana Buddhist Temple. This temple is home to the largest buddha statue in NYC and was opened in 1997. I was intrigued by the traditional architecture including the paifang which was introduced to Chinese culture through Indian Buddhism. The paifang represents a gateway and has distinct multi-tiered roofs. Another aspect of Chinese architecture that inspired me was the open space and bilateral symmetry. This garment adapts to the history of Chinatown because Buddhism is the largest religion in China and also has a major presence in the Chinatown population.
