LEGEND
A Vans footwear line.
About the project
Based on a Chinese tale about perseverance and strength, this shoe and apparel line displays the beauty and elegance of the koi fish featured in the story. The abstract patterns of koi, the commonality of scales on fish and dragons, and the koi’s final transformation are showcased in the line and inspired by the legend.
Deliverables
Footwear Design, Apparel, Print & Pattern
TEAM
Individual
TOOLS
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Procreate
INDIVIDUAL — SLIP-ON
EXTERNAL — ERA
TRANSFORMATION — SK8-HI
The legend of the golden dragon.
“An ancient tale tells of a huge school of golden koi swimming upstream the Yellow River in China. Gaining strength by fighting against the current, the school glimmered as they swam together through the river. When they reached a waterfall at the end of the river, many of the koi turned back, letting the flow of the river carry them away. The remaining koi refused to give up. Leaping from the depths of the river, they attempted to reach the top of the waterfall to no avail. Their efforts caught the attention of local demons, who mocked their efforts and heightened the waterfall out of malice. After a hundred years of jumping, one koi finally reached the top of the waterfall. The gods recognized the koi for its perseverance and determination and turned it into a golden dragon, the image of power and strength.”
From “Koi Story,” https://koistory.com/blog/koi-fish-meaning-and-myth