Traditional Chinese clothing addresses a fashionable trend

HONG KONG－It had been a long and agonizing walk from home to the subway station for teenager Mandy Chan when she first put on hanfu in public. It was a set with a cream-colored shirt, a brown jacket in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) style and a red pleated skirt made by her, Chan recalls almost 10 years later. And, it was not the looks from others but her limited knowledge of traditional Chinese clothing that terrified her.

"If anyone had asked what I was wearing, or the history behind it, I would have been afraid I couldn't tell them about the whole picture," says Chan, now 28.

However, her uneasiness had gradually drifted away with more in-depth research of traditional culture, and her persistent passion for hanfu has brought her self-identity and a sense of belonging in Hong Kong, a place that combines different cultures.

Hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group in ancient China, has made a comeback nowadays as an increasing number of young Chinese are adopting it as part of their everyday and public wardrobes.

The clothing has untold stories and philosophical ideas in its every detail. The cutting and stitching line in the middle part of hanfu, Chan says, fits the spine of the human body and helps people to dress properly. This design, which has transcended itself as mere decoration, points to the qualities of the wearers as upright and moderate individuals.

"With much bigger cloth available nowadays, some of the cuttings and stitching during traditional clothes-making are no longer needed, but the line in the middle is still there," Chan says.

Her love for hanfu is also a path of exploring herself and a way to approach her dreams.

"Instead of imitating people, as I used to do, I have jumped out of my comfort zone and found the style that suits me best," Chan says. "Through hanfu, I have found myself and so many unexplored things in my life."

She appreciates the openness and inclusiveness of Hong Kong, an East-meets-West hub for international arts and cultural exchange.

The picture of hanfu lovers like Chan wearing this outfit can be seen at Hong Kong's iconic sites on special occasions, including traditional Chinese festivals and Western holidays such as Christmas.

"Hanfu in combination with Hong Kong is an extraordinary fusion of fashion," Chan says.

In recent years, some internet-savvy young people started to share their interest in the traditional clothing by forming a group to facilitate communications and promote better public understanding of hanfu in Hong Kong.

The group, with over 200 members, was expanded to a registered society called Hanfu-Hong Kong in 2013. More members of Generation Z resistant to homogenization in the modern world have joined the group and are taking their first steps by introducing the culture through a variety of activities.

Chan, as one of the founders of Hanfu-Hong Kong, recognizes some emerging business opportunities.

Four years ago, she established a studio, which enables consumers to experience a slice of life in ancient China with hanfu and traditional makeup and hairstyle, and also rents out outfits and accessories. Colorful clothes in different patterns, jewelry and ornaments crowd the compact studio in an industrial building in the city's Kwai Chung area.

"I guess I have over 200 suits of hanfu," Chan says, adding that the outfits present styles from almost every period in Chinese history.

She says she believes classics will never go out of style and she has incorporated hanfu into her everyday outlook. While working and shopping, she matches hanfu pieces－mostly featuring simple design and quiet colors－with fashionable shoes to better suit a modern lifestyle.

"Everyone can wear hanfu regardless of age or gender," Chan says.

"Hanfu does not only exist in TV series or on the internet, but can be fully integrated into our daily life."

Xinhua