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    Chinese Cultural Influence on International Fashion

    Written by: Su Xin
    Posted on: September 14, 2017 | | 中文

    (L) Armani Prive Couture Spring 2015 (source: Vogue), (C) Margot Robbie at the Legend of Tarzan Premiere, London, 2016 (source: HawtCelebs), (R) Dolce and Gabbana Pre-Fall 2015 (source: Pinimg)

    At the London premiere of The Legend of Tarzan (2016), Margot Robbie, the female lead of the film, stole the show with her stunning Gucci Cheongsam featuring Chinese embroidery.

    In recent years, Chinese features have had a great impact on international fashion as wash paintings, Chinese characters, insects and flowers appear in big collections, employed in garments for both men and women, due to their artistic charm.

    Chinese features such as the traditional Chinese garment ‘Cheongsam’, totems of dragon and phoenix, as well as paper cutting are sources of inspiration for designs which often amaze the fashion world and initiate new trends. The Dolce and Gabbana Pre-Fall Collection 2015 featured elegant and graceful dresses with patterns of blue and white Chinese porcelain. Plants from Chinese imagery, especially bamboo culture, were the theme of the Armani Spring/Summer 2015 collection, receiving widespread acclaim. Embroidery appeared in the Gucci Spring/Summer 2017 men’s suits, with symmetrical dragon heads and simple but elegant flowers.

    Chinese Cultural Influence over International Fashion - Gucci Spring Summer Men 2017

    Gucci Spring Summer Men 2017 (source: Pinimg)

    As major fashion brands in Europe and North America get inspired by Chinese features, there has been rapid growth in native brands of China. The Chinese culture remains the local designers’ inexhaustible source of inspiration.

    Ms. Peng Liyuan, China’s first lady, impressed the international community on her debut, by wearing fashion designer Ma Ke’s collections. Due to her, local brands such as Exception de Mixmind and Wuyong have become widely known. Moreover?more people are now attentive to Chinese brands and design since Peng Liyuan’s graceful and dignified clothing is marked with Chinese features and she successfully utilizes her taste in fashion to display Chinese designs. As a result at Spring/Summer 2017 Milan Fashion Show, Ricostru, the first brand of Chinese women’s garments which Giorgio Armani supports, released its collection. Earlier, during the 2017 London Fashion Scout Show, Chinese designers Chen Anqi, Su Renli, Li Xiao and Chen Xuzhi showcased their collections.

    Chinese Cultural Influence over International Fashion: Peng Liyuan in outfits designed by Ma Ke

    Peng Liyuan in outfits designed by Ma Ke (source: Getty Images and CNN)

    Refined embroidery, a time-honored and exquisitely aesthetic craftsmanship, is utilized in the new collections of Fiyta watches this year. Patterns on the watches dial are based on classic Chinese cultural images, such as magpie muttering, butterfly loving flower, brisk cicada and fish playing. Embroidered by Zhao Hongyu, a well-known embroidery artist and inheritor of China’s intangible cultural heritage, they are beautiful beyond description. 

    Chinese Cultural Influence over International Fashion - Fiyta Watches

    Fiyta Watches (source: Kenzo2016)

    The first Chinese women’s shoes brand which launched in the international market, Sheme, has remained quite proud of its use of Shu brocade on high heels. In May 2011, the world watched as a pair of Sheme shoes, rich in Sichuan features, was gifted to Cherie Blair, former first lady of U.K. Similarly, at the grand “China Night 2014,” celebrating the 50th anniversary of China-France diplomacy, Sheme shoes were presented to President De Gaulle’s granddaughter as an official gift.

    Chinese Cultural Influence over International Fashion - Cherie Blair recieving Sheme shoes

    Cherie Blair recieving Sheme shoes (source: art.ifeng)

    Chinese Cultural Influence over International Fashion - Butterflys and Blossoms Collection by Sheme 2014

    Butterflys and Blossoms Collection by Sheme 2014 (source: WomenofChina)

    The customized Sheme collection presents shoes with beautiful elements taken from the traditional Chinese cheongsam, such as knots and blooming peony. Chinese culture brings endless inspiration to designers, and thus the theme of Sheme Autumn/ Winter 2016 collection, was inspired by the wonderful image of a pair of mandarin ducks flying as described in Shi Jing (The Chinese Book of Songs, a canonical collection of ancient Chinese poetry). In “Peonies in Bloom,” one of Sheme’s earlier masterpieces, fully bloomed peonies were embroidered on the shoes. Since good techniques are core to spreading good ideas, the workers at Sheme workshop are very skilled in shoe making. Thanks to their 10-odd years of practice, they are able to masterfully execute the designers’ ideas.

    While Chinese styles sweep the global fashion industry, with a growing impact, Chinese brands with local features will also enjoy increasing recognition around the world. Ancient techniques and time-honored Chinese culture, simply add to international fashion, in a highly unique manner.

     

       Translated by Shan Xuemei


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

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    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
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    January 2021