The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2022 - Issue 31

bitebags g Cristina Lloyd is intrigued by accessory designer Liying Yang’s folding art and design elements that create new series and find solutions to bridge gaps. Liyin Yan W hen Liying Yang moved to the UK with her family at the age of 13, speaking no English, she discovered she could only ex- press herself in art classes as there were no language barriers. During her first year in the country, acces- sory-making was an essential factor in her child- hood. “I remember making many accessories for my school friends and teaching them to make origami and other things. I was quite popular in school al- though I didn’t speak much of their language [at the time].” This recollection took her back to when she was younger, surrounded by art and craft-making peo- ple. “My mother, Bing, was a seamstress; the cup- boards were full of fabric and embellishment trim- mings. My grandmother, Su, loved to do handcraft with her neighbour lady friends [while] I helped them thread the needles. After school, I would help the neighbours with their beading work and hand embroidery. I got paid in ice lollies,” she added, smil- ing. “It makes me smile every time I think about it.” Designer Profile