The Thousand-Year Dragon: Ly Dynasty Silk for the Modern Woman
Folk FormQuick answer: The Ly Dynasty dragon is a soft, curving figure from 11th-century Hanoi, drawn without scales and with a pearl at its mouth. On our silk it stands for wisdom and good fortune. The Dragon Dreams scarf repeats it from $97 for the 26 inch square, and the blue Dragon of Grace dress is $380.
What is the dragon on this silk?
It is the Ly Dynasty dragon of the 11th century, and it is gentler than most people expect. Ly artists drew it with a soft body that curves like water, no scales, a pearl at its mouth and a flame-shaped crest. The mark on its forehead is the old character for thunder, and thunder meant rain for the harvest. So the dragon is a wish for a good year, not a threat.
The Ly Dynasty ruled from 1009 to 1225 and built the citadel of Thang Long, today's Hanoi. The dragon appears in the carved stone of the citadel, and our designs are drawn from that carving. For more, see What the Ly Dynasty Dragon Means.
How does it become a scarf or a dress?
The motif is drawn as a repeat so that it still looks right folded, knotted or cut. On a scarf it is printed by hand in Hanoi, one screen for each color, through both faces of 16 momme mulberry silk. The same silk is cut and finished in our Hanoi atelier for dresses. The cut is made to order, in your usual US size or, for 10% more, to your measurements.
Which dragon design is it?
Dragon Dreams has four dragon heads at the corners turned toward a bodhi leaf, with a border of Xi Van, a creature said to guard against fire. Dragon of Grace shows eight small dragons around a bodhi leaf and lotus. The dress we list now is the blue Dragon of Grace dress; the scarves in these photographs are Dragon Dreams in dark green and orange.
How do you style and wear it?
A 36 in (90 cm) square over the shoulders reads like a shawl, and a 26 in (65 cm) square folds into a band at the neck. The dress needs very little: one earring, one bag, a flat or a low heel. If you want the cultural reference, What Is an Ao Dai? explains a Vietnamese silhouette you may know already. Browse every 36 inch scarf and the Dragon Dreams collection, or the clothing collection.
Is it a good gift for her for the dragon motif?
For a woman who notices what a design is saying, yes. A dragon with a story gives her something to explain, unlike a logo. If you are unsure of sizes, choose the scarf instead: the 26 in (65 cm) square is $97 and the 36 in (90 cm) square is $153. More ideas are in gifts for a wife and What Makes a Luxury Silk Scarf.
How do you care for silk clothing?
Dry cleaning is recommended; tell the cleaner it is hand-printed silk. By hand, use cold water and a little shampoo, never wring, and dry in the shade. The steps are in How to Wash a Silk Scarf by Hand, and more guides are in all our guides.
Orders leave Hanoi in 1 to 3 business days and reach the US 9 to 15 business days later; a made-to-measure cut adds 3 to 5 business days. Import duty is already paid.
If you would like the dress to have a companion, the Dragon Dreams silk scarf repeats the same Ly Dynasty motif at a smaller scale. Our 36 inch (90 cm) square at $153 drapes over the shoulders just as described above, while the 26 inch size at $97 is a gentler first step. Since you have read this far, BLOG5 at checkout takes 5% off your order.
The dragon dress: your questions
What does the Ly Dynasty dragon symbolize?
It stands for strength, wisdom and success, and a good year. Ly artists drew it soft and curving, with a pearl at its mouth, and the mark on its forehead is the old character for thunder.
How should I wash a silk dress?
Dry cleaning is recommended; tell the cleaner it is hand-printed silk. By hand, use cold water and a little shampoo, never wring the fabric, and dry it in the shade.
Can I get the dragon motif on a scarf?
Yes. The Dragon Dreams silk scarf repeats the Ly Dynasty motif. The 26 inch (65 cm) square is $97 and the 36 inch (90 cm) square is $153.
Is the silk dress made to order?
Yes. The Dragon of Grace dress is cut to order in our Hanoi atelier in your usual US size, or to your measurements for 10% more, and it takes about three and a half weeks to reach a US address.
