Glittering needle in fashion haystack proves a massive hit

The fashion of hand-embroidered special-occasion dresses, like traditional Chinese gowns like Qipao and Guapao, is having a sort of revival in the China market, thanks to firms such as Tengxun Bridal and, in a sense, the Chinese first lady.

Lin Shuang, 35 years old, founded the Tengxun Bridal studio in 2009 after quitting her job with a major State-owned trading company in Beijing.

She grew up in the hutongs of Wangfujing area in Beijing. Her childhood extra-curricular activities included traditional Chinese drawing, calligraphy and traditional musical instruments.