Harbour City × Mayuka Morimoto“Blooming Bunny Year” Embroidery Project
In 2023, I was invited by Harbour City, one of Hong Kong’s largest shopping malls, to create six original embroidery artworks for its Lunar New Year project, “Blooming Bunny Year.”
My rabbit-and-flower embroidery designs were developed into limited-edition Lai See Packets and a Rabbit Ears Knot Double-Sided Lai See Pouch. The original works were also presented as part of the “New Year Wishing Pond” installation at Harbour City.
The six embroidery designs were translated into round Lai See Packets. Embossing and hot stamping recreate the raised texture and dimensional quality of the original stitches.
A fabric pouch that can be tied into rabbit-ear handles was produced alongside the packets. Seeing my embroidery transformed into an object to be held, opened, and shared was one of the most rewarding parts of the project.
The video shows how the circular packet opens and how the details of the design appear in motion.
Embroidery in a Larger Space
Selected designs were also enlarged for the venue’s seasonal decoration. The large-scale embroidery imagery appeared in Harbour City’s Lunar New Year display alongside Angelababy and Choi San, the God of Wealth.
From Embroidery to Product
I created each artwork as an embroidery piece before it was adapted for print and product design. The rabbits, flowers, colors, and stitched textures were carefully translated so that the character of the handmade originals remained visible in the finished packets.
The production process gave the work a new life: a small embroidery could become part of a Lunar New Year tradition and travel from one person to another.
Observation Note
Embroidery is usually encountered at an intimate scale. A single stitch is quiet and slow, staying close to the hands of the maker and the person who looks at it.
This project revealed another possibility. When the embroidered rabbits entered a large commercial space, they connected products, seasonal decoration, visitors, and shared memories.
The embroidery did more than decorate the space. Its softness and traces of handwork introduced a small moment of warmth—an invitation to pause and look more closely.
From Handmade Artwork to a Shared Experience
The original embroidery moved through several forms:
Artwork → Product → Space → People
Through this movement, a piece made from thread became part of a much larger experience. For me, the project remains an example of how handmade work can retain its warmth while reaching people in an unexpected setting.
Exhibition Details
The original embroidery artworks were displayed as part of the “New Year Wishing Pond” installation at Ocean Terminal, Harbour City.
Date: 9–27 January 2023
Time: 10:00 am–10:00 pm
Venue: Level 2 Entrance, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City
About Mayuka Morimoto
I am a Japanese embroidery artist based in Hokkaido, Japan. Inspired by animals and nature, I use thread to explore the textures, movement, and atmosphere of living creatures.
My work has appeared in books, magazines, commercial projects, and exhibitions in Japan and abroad. Through embroidery, I continue to explore how handmade art can create warmth, connection, and small moments of joy.
