CryingCenter collaborates for cultural preservation in Dong villages
©CryingCenter
In recent years, the Dong ethnic villages have faced a serious issue: the rapid encroachment of their beautiful wooden architectural heritage by an external material—concrete. For centuries, the Dong people have been constructing their villages with local fir wood, and now, this sustainable material is losing its status in the Dong villages.
Pingtan Central Primary School is a typical example. Established in 1951, the school's concrete buildings were constructed two decades ago. Surrounding the playground are teaching buildings, teachers' dormitories, students' dormitories, administrative buildings, and a canteen. Seizing this opportunity to preserve Dong's wooden architectural genes, the public welfare architectural studio Condition Lab saw a chance to rekindle Dong people's interest in their cultural heritage. Condition Lab has created a wooden library for Pingtan Central Primary School, providing opportunities for local traditional carpenters and creating a space of knowledge for the left-behind children in the school.
The trendy apparel brand CryingCenter has also joined the initiative, collaborating with Condition Lab to develop the first "Tear House" public welfare project centered around the Dong people in Huaihua, Hunan. The product series is divided into two parts, with 20% of the proceeds going back to Condition Lab for local architectural and future cultural development for the residents. It is reported that the public welfare series of clothing is made from eco-friendly fabrics provided by Jiaqian Textile, which contains plant-based components that can naturally degrade. The tie-dye process clothing in the series also uses eco-friendly pigments.
