The rise of the Buddha symbol in fashion

Buddha is back in fashion, bags and even tattoos.

When Buddha-based fashion saw its rise in the 1990s with dragon dresses, patterned bags and religious motifs spotted on the runway at Vivienne Tam’s 1997 Buddha Collection, the fashion world went crazy for them – celebrities wore it and it influential collection was quickly acquired. in the archives of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

East Asian influences permeated pop culture in the 1990s, thanks to the 1997 film Seven years in Tibet, starring Brad Pitt, and on Madonna’s 1998 album, Ray of lightwhich was part of her study of Eastern religions—Hinduism and Buddhism. they all connect, and I find that very comforting and kind.

But it wasn’t until a decade later that designers took the reins – like Chinese designers Renli Su and Zheng Qing’er, who both launched collections inspired by Tibetan Buddhism in 2015 and 2016.

All these moments have been key to the evolution of fashion and the influence of the Buddha. And with New York Fashion Week just around the corner, everyone is talking about fall fashion trends.

In fact, one tattoo artist is looking back at the Buddha’s influence on high fashion. It’s a symbol of peace, unity and devotion is a Seoul-based tattoo artist who works under the name Rizn, Yujin Lee.

“When I first started working with Buddha-based tattoos, I was intrigued that religion could be fashionable,” Lee said. “Many designers have used the Buddha as the heart of their fashion design. From then on, I felt that fashion had a strong connection with religion.”

Lee began exploring the Buddha in her tattoos last year, and now, it’s exploded into a full career. It explores the Buddha’s hand in various poses, and with the Lotus flower, among others.

Lee is a bonafide expert on Buddhist tattoos and is intrigued by how religion can be fashionable. “What fascinates me is how non-religious people are drawn to the Buddha symbol,” she said.

“I’m intrigued that religion sparks the imagination of artists and designers and allows them to innovate from Buddha as a jumping off point – it’s considered provocative in some cultures. A lot of art is inspired by different religions, so why not Buddhism in fashion design in 2022?”

Many of the designers who have considered Buddhism as an influence have been inspired by travels to Tibet, the history of Buddhism, or have found their own inner peace.

The Buddha is a highly respected symbol that is sacred. “The Buddha is more of a revered subject who teaches people, rather than a deified creator and savior to be worshipped,” Lee said. “Buddhism includes Shakyamuni Buddha’s teaching method definition and teaching methods for becoming a Buddha. This means that anyone can become a Buddha.”

In fashion, the Buddha is featured in a block print, as an icon and as a way to practice mindfulness, as in Yumi Sakugawa’s recent book, Fashion predictionsand Buddha tattoos are a symbol of one’s faith, and perhaps their journey to a better self, or enlightenment.

“It wasn’t my intention to make the Buddha my signature feature,” Lee said. “I just thought it was a great symbol to tattoo, and once I did the first one, it became a symbol that people identify with and love. Since then I have developed more designs and learned a lot along the way.”

Many of Lee’s tattoos are placed in an “Om” Buddha position, with the tip of the index finger touching the tip of the thumb. Others show the tip of the thumb touching the tip of the middle finger, and many of Lee’s Buddha hand tattoos are decorated with lotus flowers, at the base of the hand or inside the palm of the hand.

Buddhism has a different meaning for the Western world. “Of course, it varies from person to person, but maybe, the Buddha in pop culture and fashion will allow people to learn about Buddhism, which I think is great,” she said. “It may not be the norm, but maybe it can add value to people’s daily lives.”

Lee’s clients get the Buddha tattooed on them for personal and religious reasons, depending on the person.

It all depends on their Zen outlook on life. When the Dalai Lama was interviewed for a cover story in Paris Vogue, in 1990, he said that fashion only accentuates one’s soul, for better or for worse. “A beautiful smile, a kind look is more precious than the most fantastic jewel,” he said. “Put the finest ornaments on a rude face … it would improve nothing.”

“The lotus flower has a huge presence in Buddhism, you can see it in many places when you enter a Buddhist shrine, such as walls, ceilings, doors and stonework,” she said.

Lee is on her way to learn about Buddhism, from both fashion designers, and the history associated with it. “I started studying Buddhist philosophy naturally as I was working on a Buddhist tattoo,” she said. “Buddhism has permeated my life and it’s making my tattoo stronger.”

“I think it’s because of the flexibility that Buddhism has,” Lee said.