Weaving the Ten Thousand Things: A Ziran Film Series

In the opening chapter of Weaving the Ten Thousand Things, Founder and Creative Director Kelly Wang Shanahan invites us into the philosophical roots of Ziran - the Daoist principle that shapes both the brand and its worldview.

In Daoism, “the ten thousand things” refers to all phenomena in the universe: the countless forms born from the Dao. This serves as the guiding inspiration for this series. Drawing from the 25th chapter of the Daodejing - the seminal text written by Laozi over 2,500 years ago - Kelly unpacks the ancient meaning of Ziran: a return to one’s inherent nature. A state of effortless alignment where water flows, fire rises, bamboo bends, and all things follow their true form. This is the essence of Daoism, China’s indigenous philosophy of harmony, simplicity, and living in accordance with the natural world.

Episode 1 introduces Xiang Yun Sha, Ziran’s exclusive silk known as Perfumed Cloud Clothing. This silk has been made the same way for 500 years, carried by an intricate process that includes being coated in river mud, dyed with yam root, and baked under the summer sun. This heritage silk embodies the cycle of earth, sky, and humanity. It is living proof that “Made in China” can mean heritage, mastery, care, and devotion to craft.

Episode 1 sets the foundation for the three-part series. It's a meditation on origins. This is where the weaving begins. 

Creative Direction: Kelly Wang Shanahan (@theziran)

Video + Editing: Jhonson Phielipus (@jjnxx2250)

Sound: Nic Dematteo (@_king_grump_)

Shot in the Pearl River Delta, China & Bali, Indonesia. 2024-2025.