Qipao cultural experience held in Beijing

The bride gown series designed by Zhang Fenglan and her team is on display in a high school in Shijingshan district, Beijing on Sept 16. [Photo by Zhou Bing/chinadaily.com.cn]

An exhibition of Beijing-style qipao and related products was held in a high school in Shijingshan district on Sept 16. More than 20 intangible cultural heritage enthusiasts ranging from 12 years old to 60 took part in it.

It was organized by Great Seed, a global community platform targeting all people interested in intangible cultural heritage to communicate, share, experience and inherit intangible cultural heritage worldwide.

Zhang Fenglan, the fifth inheritor of Beijing-style qipao culture, introduced the exhibited qipao, including blue and white series, ink series and bride gown series, designed and made by Zhang and her team.

She said the Beijing-style qipao with less slit in the sides was more solemn and dignified than the Shanghai-style qipao.

In the cultural creative products zone, Zhang shared some cultural exchange stories about the products. She said she designed a product with the colors of Chinese and Thai national flags for Thailand when she went there to hold an exhibition of Beijing-style qipao and related products.

When asked about the difference between her and her masters, she said that she could innovate qipao style according to the aesthetic and demand of the masses.

After the introduction, Zhang led the participants to the handwork area to experience the process of making a bud by using cloth and cotton.

Many participants had handwork experience, some of them were even designers, and some of them had participated in similar activities several times. So the handcraft was relatively easy for them.

A dress designer said the reason why she took part in the activity was that she wanted to know more about Chinese clothes, since she always made Western-style clothes.

The 12-year-old girl said she was interested in Chinese culture, and wanted to participate more in future.