Tainan Embroidery
Amulet for Tainan Embroidery Trade Association
This project integrates regional motifs with local manufacturers to adapt traditional Taiwanese amulets for daily use. Developed in collaboration with Tiantan Temple, the collection translates specific architectural details, such as the One Character Plaque and Elephant Bracket, into physical accessories using high density machine embroidery. The application of circular yarns, utilizing salvaged thread remnants, introduces recycled materials directly into the production cycle. This structural approach transitions historical visual elements into formats suitable for everyday context.
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Tainan Embroidery by Yi Pei Wu
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Amulet by Yi Pei Wu
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Yi Pei Wu Tainan Embroidery
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Yi Pei Wu Amulet
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Tainan Embroidery Trade AssociationBrand Logo
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Unique Properties
Tainan Embroidery unites factories in Tainan to showcase industrial excellence. Highlights include an amulet with 40000 stitches and another using delicate lingerie lace technology, a unique cross-industry application. The tote bag, designed specifically for temple ritual gifts, is made from circular yarn up cycled from factory leftover threads. Merging religious heritage with upcoming artists, Tainan Embroidery transforms invisible Original Equipment Manufacturer into a cultural brand, turning traditional amulets into collectible high-end art.
Tags
Cultural Heritage, Contemporary Amulet, Sustainable Bag, Machine Embroidery, Upcycled Textiles, Wearable Art, Spiritual Design, Oriental Aesthetics, Cross Industry Manufacturing
Production Technology
The lingerie-tech Love amulet features a monolithic hollow design, integrating the cord through iterative prototyping, with inner mesh pockets for incense ashes. The Dragon edition combines 40,000-stitch density with printing for delicate scales. The tote uses circular yarn, which is up-cycled factory remnants, overlaid with translucent mesh to create a cloud-like effect. To secure these recycled threads, a dense embroidery layout was engineered, turning material constraints into a modern aesthetic.
Design Challenge
The core challenge was resolving complex cross-disciplinary conflicts under severe time constraints: Craft Constraints: Adapting modern design to strict small-scale embroidery limits. Mindset Shift: Persuading struggling factories to prioritize R&D over a cost-driven OEM mentality. Sacred Innovation: Balancing novel aesthetics with temple traditions and religious sanctity. All achieved under a highly compressed grant schedule.
Project Duration
The project started in July 2025 and finished in December 2025 in Tainan, Taiwan.
Operation Flow
The design encourages tactile engagement through ritualistic interactions. The Wisdom amulet features a hidden lace element that users can pull out and tuck back, symbolising the unveiling of wisdom. The Tiger Deity amulet includes a detachable cloak, allowing users to interact with the deity’s protective layers. These playful, transformative elements bridge the gap between traditional sacred objects and modern lifestyle accessories, enhancing the user's bond with the culture.
Research
This research investigates the intersection of cultural heritage and industrial manufacturing. Through ethnographic studies and technical consultations, sacred motifs like the One-Character Plaque are translated into a modern visual language. Key innovations include sustainable circular yarns and high-density hollow-out lace techniques. User-centric methodologies ensure optimal ergonomics, creating a seamless alignment between spiritual symbols and contemporary lifestyle.
Inspiration
Tainan has been the embroidery hub of Taiwan. While many offshored, few resilient factories stayed, preserving high quality machine embroidery. Yet, facing the cheap competitors, these makers need to evolve from suppliers into recognised brands. Hence Tainan Embroidery is launched, partnering with Tiantan Temple, we innovate their most stable demand: religious textiles. Artists deconstructed temple visual heritage, such as deity statues, handcrafted pillars, and ancient tapestries, into modern motifs.
Image Credits
Image #1: Creator Yi-Pei Wu / the amulet set, 2025 Image #2: Photographer Felan Wu / the up-cycled yarn tote bag, 2025 Image #3: Photographer Yi-Pei Wu / the cloud amulet, 2025 Image #4: Photographer Yi-Pei Wu / the dragon amulet, 2025 Image #5: Photographer Felan Wu / the Tiger Deity amulet, 2025
Project Overview
Tainan Embroidery Amulet has been a Bronze winner in the Giftware Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Bronze Recognition
Yi-Pei Wu was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work Tainan Embroidery Amulet.
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