Chapter 85
When Chen Zhiyi got home that evening, dinner was already prepared. After several long nights of filming, the production team had a change of heart and let him finish filming early so he could go home and catch up on his sleep. It must be said that Chef Chen's cooking skills have improved a lot. From a bowl of tomato and egg noodles when he first moved in, he can now make a meal with meat and vegetables, three dishes and a soup. It's really good.
Chen Zhiyi cooked dinner today, and Lin Ting felt bad making him wash the dishes again. She was already tired enough from filming. After repeatedly urging him to leave the kitchen, Lin Ting washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen herself.
Stepping out of the kitchen, Chen Zhiyi, who was sitting on the sofa, beckoned to her, "Come here, I need to tell you something."
Lin Ting sat down and, seeing what he was holding, looked astonished. "How come you also have this program proposal?"
"Eh? How come someone mentioned it to you?"
"Yes, Zhang Ying talked to me at the company today. The company wants to send me to participate in this program, but where did you get this proposal?"
Chen Zhiyi blurted out, "Qin Fei sent it. She also asked me to persuade you to participate in this program, saying it's a rare opportunity."
Lin Ting was a little puzzled, "It's her? How could she be here?"
"Don't overthink it. She just wanted to repay the favor of me for making an exception to accept 'Eternal Love Song,' and didn't say anything else."
"Oh, okay." Seeing how casually he spoke, Lin Ting didn't think much of it.
Chen Zhiyi patted her head. "So, what are your thoughts?"
Lin Ting lowered her eyes, her brows furrowed, seemingly conflicted.
"You don't want to?"
"kind of."
This word is subtle; it's hard to say whether it means willingness or unwillingness.
Chen Zhiyi understands her. She is usually incredibly stubborn and always tries to handle things on her own, but when it comes to crucial matters, she tends to get stuck in a rut and retreat into her shell. She needs someone to pull her out of the shell. That's how it was when she participated in the athletes' uniform design competition.
She cares too much about the outcome; after weighing the pros and cons, she will choose to give up or run away.
Chen Zhiyi let her lean against him, hugged her, and gently persuaded her, "I know you feel uncomfortable being exposed in front of the camera for a long time, as if you are being watched. Also, if more people get to know you on the show, our relationship will be easily discovered. You don't want to face this, and you are worried that it will affect me."
"That's not what I meant." Lin Ting wanted to argue, but her soft voice only confirmed it.
“I’m not blaming you, but what I want to say is that if it’s mainly because of the second reason, there’s really no need to worry. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and I’ve said many times that I’m not afraid, and it won’t affect me in the slightest. But if it’s the first reason, I think you don’t need to worry at all. Think about it from another angle, what do you think is the worst outcome of participating in this show? It’s elimination. One is being eliminated when the production team is selecting the contestants, which would be perfect, exactly what you want. The other is being eliminated during the official recording. The contestants who can be selected for the show are definitely the best in the industry, so losing to them isn’t shameful.”
Lin Ting nestled in his arms and nodded.
"You can accept a bad result, but what about the benefits? If you win the championship, everyone will be happy. M Group will regain public attention because of your victory, and you can also reach a higher level. If you don't, it's not a pity. In the process, you can learn from people who share the same dreams. People with different styles and ideas will come together, which will inspire you more. You might even make friends with people who resonate with you in design, which is invaluable. Also, the hosts, Sophie and Zhao Yi, I think you should know them if you often read fashion magazines. One is the editor-in-chief of a magazine, and the other is a fashion icon. Both of them value ability rather than those superficial things, so the fairness and impartiality of the competition can be guaranteed. Moreover, both of them are good at recognizing talent, especially Zhao Yi. I have met him. Although he is imaginative and has eccentric tastes, he is very passionate about traditional culture and likes to study the unique crafts of various ethnic groups. This coincides with your interests, so you will definitely be able to attract each other. Being able to make connections with such influential people is the biggest gain from this competition."
"So, do you agree?" Chen Zhiyi asked her.
Lin Ting nodded, "Yes, I read the fashion trend prediction column in every issue of Vega magazine. Editor-in-Chief Su has a very keen sense of fashion, which I admire. And the ethnic handicraft exhibition that Teacher Zhao Yi organized before was really impressive. Xiao Lei and I once made a special trip to Beijing to see it. I like and respect both of them very much."
Chen Zhiyi spread his hands and said, "Look, you can accept both the good and the bad. Isn't it a loss to give up just because you're afraid of the camera?"
"It's just your imagination. Believe me, this time everyone will look at you with envy and admiration, not with the things you went through when you were a child. You are so outstanding and capable, you deserve to be seen by more people. I have a feeling that you will make a big breakthrough in this competition, both in terms of ability and career. Maybe we will meet at the top soon."
It has to be said that Chen Zhiyi hit the nail on the head with every point. Yes, this is an opportunity, a chance to break the status quo and achieve a qualitative leap in one's career in the shortest possible time, so that in the future one can stand rightfully and equally capable beside Chen Zhiyi.
Lin Ting sat up straight, looking serious. "Okay, I'm willing to give it a try."
Soon, the production team received the application materials, met with Lin Ting, and she passed the interview. A total of twelve contestants passed the production team's interview for this competition.
Before the official recording, the directing team needs to shoot a pilot episode, which is a short video introducing each contestant's personal situation and recording their daily work and life so that the judges and the audience can understand them.
After communicating with the production team, Lin Ting decided to hold the recording at the M Group office, where she usually works.
On the day of the recording, Lin Ting specially wore light makeup. Her overall makeup was soft yet radiant, giving people a warm feeling. Her hair was tied up with a fishtail clip, with two loose strands of hair left on both sides of her temples. She would occasionally tuck them behind her ears, making her look even more graceful and elegant. Her small face could completely withstand the harshness of a horizontal screen, making her very photogenic.
Wang Tong has been a director for many years and knows that audiences nowadays really like this kind of understated beauty. Even in the entertainment industry, it would be easy for her to become a breakout star. He even joked that Lin Ting had wandered onto the wrong set and should have gone to the variety show next door to participate in a girl group debut program.
Lin Ting also joked, "Then I should be the oldest candidate for a girl group in history."
On the day of the recording, Lin Ting happened to be working with her team on the summer Tmall campaign. As the person in charge, she went through each item with her team members, quickly approving anything they agreed on. If there were any disagreements, she would carefully consider them, offer her own ideas, and of course, respect her team members' perspectives, seeking a balance. The entire process was gradual and calm.
During the recording, Wang Tong watched in front of the monitor and realized that she could also be an excellent manager.
When the pilot episode was released, Lin Ting once again went viral and even trended on Weibo that day. She was almost scared to death when she saw the hashtag.
The comments section was filled with fervent declarations of love for her.
The third girl who came out really appealed to my aesthetic sense; she's the type of girl that I, as a fellow girl, like.
My sister is so amazing, she's absolutely the lesbian dream girl!
Please! She's also incredibly attractive to guys, okay? She's the image of your first love, your ideal woman!
As expected, all other types pale in comparison to purity.
She speaks so gently, and when communicating with her subordinates, she always looks at them sincerely. Unlike our leader, whose eyes are always on top of their head. How can we communicate? It's always "I don't care what you think, I care what I think."
The atmosphere in this kind of meeting is so pleasant that you could spend all day there without getting bored; it's like a gentle breeze.
I heard my sister is a designer at M Group. I'll go and stake out her place sometime.
Let's form a support group, we'll do it together!
Lin Ting sat blankly in front of the screen.
A chilling and incredibly arrogant voice came from the side: "Other people only have rivals of the same sex, but I fucking have rivals of the opposite sex."
Lin Ting turned her head and saw Chen Zhiyi sitting on the sofa, arms crossed, back against the chair, legs crossed, squinting at her with a look that clearly said, "Who's the one attracting the attention?"
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The official recording of the program was arranged in Haishi, an international metropolis and a hub for global information trends, boasting numerous fashion and cultural industries, which perfectly matched the program's background. The production team set up four temporary filming studios on a plot of land in the suburbs.
One room is a reception area where the host announces the theme and contestants can draw design sketches. The second room is a sewing area for making garments. The third room is a materials area filled with all kinds of fabrics and accessories. The fourth room is the largest, with the front desk set up as a catwalk for fashion shows. Behind it is a makeup and accessories room for doing makeup on the models.
Everything was brand new, the setup was high-end, and it reeked of money. This made all the contestants even more convinced that Kuyou was serious this time. It wasn't just about making a reality show for the audience; they genuinely wanted to select outstanding young fashion designers and show the audience that China's fashion industry has never declined. We have a 5,000-year-old cultural heritage and so many magnificent treasures left by our ancestors. We can use, inherit, improve, and develop them. Our fashion kingdom will only get better and better, and it will become more and more Chinese. We can forge a fashion path that leads the world with Chinese characteristics.
From this perspective, this program has a grand scale.
During the recording of the first episode, Lin Ting appeared calm and composed before stepping into the studio, but in reality, her palms were sweating profusely with nervousness. However, once inside the studio, she forgot what nervousness was.
As someone in the garment industry, seeing rows of brand-new electric sewing machines, ironing machines, overlock machines, and a room full of neatly arranged fabrics, and opening the transparent drawer in the middle, with each compartment containing different accessories such as buttons, sequins, and ribbons, who wouldn't feel itchy, excited, and captivated? This is simply paradise for garment professionals.
Soon, all twelve contestants had arrived. Although Lin Ting was meeting most of them for the first time, several were already well-known, such as Zhang Jian, a menswear designer who won the newcomer award in the fashion industry two years ago; Liu Yangqing, the owner of a top-three e-commerce womenswear brand; Li Muzi, a blogger specializing in traditional Chinese style designs; and Na Lin, a rising star in haute couture who designed the Cannes red carpet gown for international superstar Zhang Yi last year.
Lin Ting was genuinely surprised that they came to participate. More than feeling nervous, she was excited, feeling honored to be able to compete on the same stage with these people.
She agreed with Chen Zhiyi's statement that standing on this stage, winning or losing is no longer important. What's joyful is being able to gather with a group of like-minded people who share the same passion, exchanging skills, ideas, and sparking intellectual discussions. Don't treat it as a stepping stone to climb higher, but rather as a broad platform that embraces everything. Here, you can see the strengths of others, discover your own weaknesses, and grow together in a way that allows you to improve.
Next, the two hosts entered the reception room, creating a small climax in the room. They immediately greeted the twelve contestants, the female host offering a cheek kiss and the male host a hug, all with openness and without any awkwardness.
When Sophie hugged Lin Ting, she said to her, "Keep it up, I have high hopes for you. I really admire what you said in the video. You have courage and ideals, which is very similar to me when I was young."
In that instant, a thin mist rose in Lin Ting's eyes. Receiving the appreciation and recognition of someone she admired was an indescribable happiness and immense encouragement.
Zhao Yi announced the theme of the first episode - Classic Recreation. The production team prepared twelve lottery slips, each listing a classic style that has had a significant impact on the fashion industry over the past century. Contestants were to recreate the style based on the lottery slip they drew.
Lin Ting drew the Dior-new look, a belted afternoon suit (Bar Jacket), a white, narrow-shouldered blazer and a black wool "crown" pleated skirt, which allowed women's figures and waistlines to be displayed again. During World War II, it awakened women's yearning for beauty and brought back "femininity".
This outfit can be broken down into a short jacket and a skirt, which is a fairly conventional design by today's standards. However, when it was created, it was a design that caused a major change in women's clothing and became a representative of women's fashion at the time.
This design is a must-learn for fashion design students. Drawing it is both lucky and challenging, as it severely tests basic garment making skills and attention to detail. It took me a month to learn when I was a student, and now I have to make it in two days, which is quite tight. Moreover, this outfit requires a combination of draping and pattern making. A purely draped blazer would not be made neat and well-fitting, but a purely pattern-made skirt would not have an exaggerated, voluminous effect.
Lin Ting couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
The competition officially began. After getting the fabric and accessories, Lin Ting started making patterns using computer software. She planned to make the intricately crafted blazer first, and then the skirt. Pattern making, cutting, interfacing, and sewing proceeded in an orderly manner.
With time running out, everyone was focused on their designs. The only sound in the studio was the whirring of sewing machines. Occasionally, when someone looked up and saw another person, a glance or a gesture was enough to convey encouragement and support.
Lin Ting liked this atmosphere, a harmonious and friendly competitive atmosphere. It turned out that these outstanding people could shine on their own.
In the evening, the model arrived. The model who partnered with Lin Ting was named Jiang Keren. Just like her name, she was a sweet and lovely girl. Her height met the requirements for a model, being nearly 1.8 meters tall. However, her appearance did not match her height. She had a round face, bright and sparkling eyes, and two cute dimples when she smiled. This was clearly not the same type of model we usually see on the runway who are domineering, cool, and glamorous.
In real life, Lin Ting would take a second look at a girl like this, but on the catwalk, she was a little worried. Such a look wouldn't be popular on the runway and wouldn't be able to command attention.
The perfect presentation of a garment depends on half of its design and half of its presentation on the runway.
Although Lin Ting was smiling, Jiang Keren still sensed something was amiss. She immediately grabbed Lin Ting's hand, her eyes shining, "Sister Lin, don't worry, I will definitely walk well. If you don't believe me, I can show you right now."
Lin Ting immediately stopped her, "No need, no need. The fact that you were selected shows that you have outstanding abilities."
"Yes, I practice walking the runway in high heels almost every day, at least five kilometers a day. I know my looks aren't popular in the modeling industry, but judging a person's professional skills isn't based on their looks. I really worked hard to get here, and this is the best opportunity I've ever had. Unlike others who have professional agencies supporting them, I'm self-made because I really love this industry."
Lin Ting instantly realized how clumsy and despicable her earlier judgment based on appearance had been. How could someone who could speak eloquently about their ideals, passions, and the struggles they had made for them not succeed in the future? Time would surely provide the answer.
"Okay, let's work together."
"Yes, sister, I will definitely not let you down."
When trying on the clothes, Lin Ting noticed Jiang Keren's advantages: she was tall and well-proportioned, and all her dimensions were basically consistent with the standard mannequin. The clothes fit her very well, and no alterations were needed.
After the modeling session ended, she worked until two or three in the morning before leaving the studio and heading to the dormitory arranged by the production team. She had a room to herself and was under a lot of stress all day. In the quiet of the night, she really wanted to talk to Chen Zhiyi about what had happened that day and how she was feeling. She would never have done this before, keeping her thoughts to herself. But now that she had someone on her mind, she couldn't keep her words to herself.
Unfortunately, cell phones had to be handed in during the recording. Lin Ting looked at the bright moon outside the window and thought that if she could talk to Chen Zhiyi, his first words would be to tell him to get some rest.
I definitely need to get some rest.
Before noon the next day, everyone was rushing to finish the final touches. At 1 p.m., the models went back into the studio for makeup, styling, dressing, and accessories.
At 3 PM sharp, the runway show will begin, regardless of the final product.
The theme of this round is "Classic Recreation," which means that participants are not required to create new designs; they can simply reproduce the original styles. Therefore, the judges are paying more attention to craftsmanship and attention to detail.
For an excellent fashion designer, design and craftsmanship go hand in hand. Being able to design but not understand craftsmanship is just empty talk, but being skilled in craftsmanship but lacking design inspiration can only make one a good sample maker.
The winner of the first round was Sun Xing, a male designer in his forties with considerable experience. He had previously worked as a sample maker for several well-known domestic clothing brands, covering both men's and women's wear, so his craftsmanship was skilled and exquisite. He recreated Chanel's classic little black dress, the same one worn by Audrey Hepburn at Breakfast at Tiffany's. Lin Ting also loved this little black dress, which perfectly showcased a woman's elegance, sexiness, and allure.
The portrayal of Sun Xing is highly accurate, almost indistinguishable from the original, which is truly impressive. The contestant who wins first place in each round receives an exemption in the next round; even with the lowest score, they will not be eliminated—a reward for the first-place winner.
Lin Ting placed eighth in the first round, a slightly lower-middle ranking. This new look had the most complex process among the twelve designs, essentially requiring the making of two garments; its success or failure hinged on the process. Completing it within two days with a relatively high overall quality was incredibly difficult and unexpected. Therefore, in rushing to meet the deadline, many details were compromised, resulting in a significant difference from the original design. For example, the skirt wasn't voluminous enough, and the overall silhouette of the coat wasn't quite right. However, the judges generally approved, hoping she could remain focused and pay more attention to detail in the future. Lin Ting was already quite satisfied with this ranking.
Chen Zhiyi asked her how she felt.
She felt like she had fallen into a blind box world, opening new blind boxes every minute and every second, with surprises and unexpected events, luck and bad luck, but she was very happy and enjoyed it very much.
Following that, three more episodes were recorded. In the fourth episode, Lin Ting unexpectedly won first place. The theme of this episode was to test the contestants' printing skills. The contestants needed to design their own print patterns and submit them to the production team. The production team would then send them to a printing factory to create a pattern and print it on the fabric. The printing factory needed time to create the pattern, so there was a three-day gap between the recording of this episode.
All participants first visited a large-scale cultural relics exhibition recently held in Tsushi, where they gained inspiration for their floral designs.
Lin Ting was drawn to a set of exquisite blue and white porcelain pieces at the exhibition. She modified and extended the blue patterns on them, redesigning a new pattern for the program team. Three days later, Lin Ting received the fabric. The layout, color, and size of the floral pattern were exactly as she had envisioned. She then had it made into a long, sleeveless cheongsam with a small stand-up collar. Jiang Keren wore it, her makeup light, her hair styled in a bun with a hairpin, and walked the runway, exuding a graceful and aloof aura.
Blue and white complement each other, with white representing the base and blue representing the flowers. Although there are only two colors, they perfectly showcase Chinese beauty. The blue and white porcelain seems to transform into a woman, holding an umbrella and walking slowly through the misty rain of Jiangnan, elegant, graceful, and full of charm.
The judges unanimously agreed that it shouldn't be considered just a piece of clothing, but rather a fine work of art. Sophie, though maintaining her usual cold demeanor and arrogant tone, couldn't hide her affection for it: "Leave the dress after the show; I'm taking it with me, and nobody's allowed to take it from me." This caused the entire audience to burst into laughter.
Although winning was a surprise and an encouragement for Lin Ting, she also knew that it had hit her strengths. She had learned embroidery from her mother since she was a child, so she had a deeper understanding of patterns, such as fish and bird patterns, ruyi patterns, landscape patterns, bamboo and rock patterns and other traditional patterns. However, when it came to opening up her mind and designing modern, minimalist or technologically advanced patterns, she was at a loss.
Learning has no end, and no one is perfect; this is where the value of the phrase "lifelong learning" truly lies.
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