At 6 o'clock on March 7th, the Chinese costume style - China's 100-year cheongsam exhibition opened at the China Women and Children's Museum. The highlight of the exhibition is the cheongsam and designer Wu Haiyan who is on the tip of the wind. The exhibition is divided into 5 units, namely the introduction of new ones - the origin of the cheongsam, the timelessness - the evolution of the cheongsam, the combination of Chinese and Western - the new language of the cheongsam, the craftsmanship of the cheongsam, the craft of the cheongsam, the eternal dress - today. As the organizers pointed out, this exhibition reflects China's clothing culture and technology from many aspects such as the cultural background of the cheongsam, the style variations, the characteristics of the times, and the variety of cheongsam fabrics, production techniques, and pattern styles.
More than 120 cheongsams were exhibited, most of which were from the cheongsam collections of the Chinese silk museum for nearly 100 years, old photographs related to cheongsams, advertising paintings, daily necessities, and cheongsams of Chinese women around the world in the second half of the 20th century. Cheongsam designed by contemporary designers. According to the organizers, the wife of the former Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Tung Chee-hwa, Ms. Bao Chingqing and famous Yue opera artist Mao Weitao also donated cheongsam and helped the exhibition. The famous Chinese designers Guo Pei, Liang Zi, Zhang Zhifeng, Qi Gang and other new cheongsams designed, donated or loaned to the visitors are full of praise. The elegant and colorful atmosphere of these cheongsams is unstoppable.
The protagonist of the news event, Wu Haiyan, also displayed the cheongsam specially designed by the ** representative and the CPPCC members. Although they did not end up wearing them in the Great Hall of the People, the static display also shows the meticulous design and exquisite workmanship. Wu Haiyan said that she did not expect such a dramatic reaction, originally intended to let the cheongsam embodying Chinese fashion go into the current life. The social reaction reminded her of the mass movement several decades ago. However, she said that she would not stop promoting the practice of Chinese elements, and the cheongsam she designed for her will also be worn on appropriate occasions.
Zhao Feng, director of the China Silk Museum, said that the cheongsam exhibition will be touring exhibitions across the country. On the evening of the opening of the cheongsam, the China Women’s Academic Forum was held. Scholars and designers from colleges and universities discussed the evolution and inheritance of the cheongsam.
On the Way of Cheongsam Zhao Feng, Director of the China Silk Museum: Cheongsam has become a formal dress or dress for women. It is one of the important costumes that represent the image of China. It is everyone's responsibility to inherit the silk dress culture. It is believed that in the future, the variety of cheongsam fabrics will be more varied and the production process will become more refined. Cheongsam follows the trend of the times and seeks a balance between classics and trends, becoming one of the most important basic types of Chinese women's wear.
Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts Party Committee ** Li Dangxi: The cheongsam is very symbolic and has cultural value. At the first sight, people know that it is Chinese clothing. Nowadays we all promote cultural development. We must also promote our own culture in costume. Today's cheongsam seems to be far from life. It is usually worn as a gown at a party. It is not like entering the homes of ordinary people in the 1920s and 1930s. We also need to tap the cheongsam culture. This kind of excavation is not a copy but a combination of modern lifestyle innovation. Many domestic designers, such as Zhang Zhifeng, are excavating, rescuing, and promoting traditional culture, which reflects their sense of responsibility.
Fan Di'an, director of the National Art Museum of China: The beauty of Chinese cheongsam is contemporary. Women's clothing represented by fashion and cheongsam is a modern innovation of China's clothing aesthetics. The development of contemporary clothing requires the search for traditional resources. How Chinese cheongsam progresses toward the present is worth studying.
Xu Jiang, Dean of the China Academy of Art: The 100-year cheongsam exhibition allows us to taste traditional culture. To get dressed, cheongsam needs people in life to wear it. Today's life and cheongsam are somewhat alienated. How we can rebuild China's fashion requires us to value the taste of young people. How they establish the taste of cheongsam, this kind of exhibition is a good way to let them feel the traditional atmosphere.
He Yang, an associate professor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion: The cheongsam in the modern sense emerged after the Xinhai Revolution. Once it was released, everyone immediately took off traditional clothing that had been worn for hundreds of years and accepted it. Females from all walks of life and occupations were captured and used by Song Meiling during her visit to the United States. They also wear them. The form of the cheongsam is accepted by everyone. This adaptability is worth exploring.
Famous designer Zhang Zhifeng: The popularity of contemporary cheongsams should be grateful to the Shanghai actresses in the 1920s and 1930s. They led the trend. "Huafu" is an abbreviation of Huaxia Dress. The most able to assume this task is a cheongsam. The cheongsam show we launched has been linked to ancient and modern with the use of some new techniques and new fabrics.
Chairman of Hangzhou Limin Chinese Style Garment Factory, Bao Wenqi: There are already few Chinese enterprises that now wear Chinese clothes. The only one that hangs “Chinese style†is our family. A country that does not have its own clothing is sad, and clothing is the most direct representation of culture. Cheongsam is the most representative Chinese clothing. We have the responsibility and obligation to promote its development. How to develop? In fact, there are great promises. For example, in order to adapt to the fast pace of life, mini cheongsams can be introduced and sports will not be affected.
Beijing in March is sacred and solemn, and the intention of a country for a year will come at this time. Four places are full of discussions and suggestions on the future development of the country and the nation. In such a grand context, a “competition of cheongsam†has emerged, and politics and fashion have unexpectedly met. Eventually, it ended in a loss of fashion, but the elegance of the cheongsam was presented on another stage.
May 15, 2019