Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Gu Panpan thought for a moment and suddenly recalled the famous old Shanghai paintings that adorned the living room during her childhood. Inspiration struck her immediately.
She covered the yellow stain in black, the rest in green and gray. But there was no defined shape, resembling more of a child’s scribble.
The surrounding designers glanced over and couldn’t help but laugh.
Gu Panpan ignored their ridicule and focused on cutting. She used the scissors to remove the bubble sleeves and added a prominent black bow on the tube top.
She elevated the dress’s waistline to conceal flesh and emphasize curves. Yet, after completing it, she sensed that something was missing.
“Yuanyuan, I feel that something is missing. What else do you think 1 should add?”
Fang Yuan said indifferently, “Expand the dress’s hem. That way, you’ll look more elegant. Additionally, we’ll be showcasing our upper bodies later. The dress’s generous hem can conceal our shoes.” The competition didn’t provide shoes, and if left uncovered, it would undoubtedly impact the overall effect. This seemed to be a small challenge set by the organizers.
“Yes, yes, yes, that’s it!” Gu Panpan quickly took action.
On the other hand, Fang Yuan added a few strokes of sea blue and reddish-brown embellishments to her original foundation. The entire dress instantly transformed into an abstract art piece.
The competition time concluded, and the contestants took the stage to display their creations.
Fang Yuan picked up the clothes and handed them to Gu Panpan. “It’s your turn now.”
Gu Panpan waved her hands repeatedly, “No, no, I can’t…”
If she went up, she probably wouldn’t even make it into the top three…
Fang Yuan encouraged her, “You have to believe in yourself.”
After Gu Panpan changed her clothes, Fang Yuan gave her a once-over and styled her with a big, curly hairstyle, exuding a modern retro vibe.
The audience eagerly anticipated the appearance of the 16th contestant, expecting it to be Fang Yuan, the enchanting designer. To their surprise, another figure took the stage. Although there was a slight disappointment, Gu Panpan’s dress and overall style left everyone in awe.
Cheng Mohan was also taken aback. Initially, he believed Gu Panpan’s facial features were not suitable for the retro style, but in the end, they surprisingly complemented each other.
This time, he awarded nine points. The other judges gave eight or seven points.
Backstage, Gu Panpan was overjoyed. “Yuanyuan, we’re heading to the finals!”
Fang Yuan also wore a satisfied smile. Gu Panpan proved to be very adaptable, and her journey here was not in vain.
The finals officially commenced. This time, only three designers and assistants remained on the field. The staff introduced three disabled individuals as the models. The final challenge was to tailor a set of clothes for these individuals.
Gu Panpan was assigned to a young lady with a left leg amputation. She looked at the young lady’s mechanical left leg with a sympathetic gaze.
Fang Yuan reminded her, “Refocus. She’s your model now. Show your professionalism and create the most suitable clothes for her.”
Gu Panpan understood and began contemplating.
This time, Fang Yuan didn’t intend to intervene. The rest was up to Gu Panpan herself.
Gu Panpan selected metal gold and silver fabric, intending to craft a stylish set of sportswear for the model.
Fang Yuan noticed that Gu Panpan had no qualms about showcasing the model’s metal prosthesis and smiled in approval.
As the competition concluded, the host invited the designers to discuss their design concepts. The first two designers uniformly covered up the models’ disabilities, which evidently did not align with the organizers’ intentions. Consequently, the judges’ ratings did not exceed 6.
When it was Gu Panpan’s turn, Cheng Mohan inquired, “Why did you choose to showcase the models’ prosthetic limbs?”
Gu Panpan took hold of the microphone and expressed, “Because I believe prosthetic limbs are a part of her body, there’s no need to deliberately conceal them. I also want to convey that prosthetic limbs can be beautiful and cool, worthy of admiration and appreciation. I design sportswear, embodying a spirit that refuses to yield. My hope is that even if one loses a part of their body, they can still run and shine!”
Gu Panpan’s words moved both the audience and the models present, bringing tears to their eyes.
“I also want to urge everyone not to treat them differently just because their bodies are incomplete. They are no different from us. Thank you.”
With a deep bow, Gu Panpan concluded her speech, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The judges awarded her full marks one after another. This time, she achieved a perfect score.
“I now declare the winner of this National Design Competition: designer number 16, Gu Panpan!”
The audience rose to their feet, applauding and cheering, chanting, “Gu Panpan! Gu Panpan! Gu Panpan!”
