From Inheritance to Innovation – Chinese Cultural Costume Exhibition
Hong Kong Cheongsam Making Technique has been inscribed onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong in 2017 and the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China in 2021. This traditional craftsmanship is an important and critically endangered intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of Hong Kong. Strategic preservation with collective efforts of the relevant academia, associations, industry, and cultural practitioners is needed to protect the fading craft.
School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) has been proactively contributing to safeguarding of Hong Kong Cheongsam Making Technique. A holistic program with concurrent conservation strings of inheritance and innovation has been unfolded. In league with the historical studies, documentations, archive establishments, and constructive design researches on the ICH being conducted by our academics, a two-phase contemporary Hong Kong cheongsam design project has been launched, engaging design students who are enthusiastic about this ICH of Hong Kong.
In the first phase of the project, nine students completed a cheongsam tailoring course in the summer of 2022 provided by two active practitioners, Casey Lee, an up-and-coming cheongsam tailor, and Eunice Lee, an executive committee member of the Hong Kong Cheongsam Association (HKCA). The students practiced and applied the tailoring techniques attained to design contemporary Chinese culture-inspired fashion outfits. Sponsored by Lenzing Fibres (Hong Kong) Limited, Prosperity Textiles, and Stella Blu Textile Limited, a collection of nine outfits has been created with the sustainable material TENCELTM LUXE and various eco-friendly indigo-inspired fabrics together with advanced textile technologies, including laser engraving, digital printing, machine embroidery, and digital jacquard weaving. From the perspectives of inheritance and innovation, this virtual exhibition showcases not only the creative outfits skilfully crafted with the traditional technique and advanced technologies but also the collective appreciation and enthusiasm of all the collaborators in this ICH of Hong Kong.
The project curation team would like to express our sincere appreciation to the students for their great effort and passion in succeeding the traditional craft. Secondly, we are grateful to our industry partners for the generous material sponsorship. Moreover, appreciation also goes to HKCA, Casey, and Eunice for their professional advices, training, and assistance. Lastly, we extend our gratitude for the technical support in the workshops and the financial support of SFT.
Organizer
School of Fashion and Textiles
Educational Partner
Hong Kong Cheongsam Association
Sponsors
Lenzing Fibers (Hong Kong) Limited
Prosperity Textiles
Stella Blu Textile Limited
Chief Curator
Haze Ng
Deputy Curator
Jackie Leung
Executive Curator
Katrina Tsai
Cheongsam Tailoring Course Instructors
Eunice Lee | Casey Lee
Workshop Technical Supports
Kevin Hui | Rachel Lau | Shui-wing Ng | Suki Siu | Sunny Wan
Student Designers
Natalie Chan | Daphne Cheng | Quinn Cheng | Joey Choi | Marcus Kuo | Sabrina Lau | Nicole Ng | Yoyo Tang | Eloise Wong
Photographers
Cathy Chan | Amber Wong
Hair and Make-up Artist
Psych Ng
Shooting Assistants
Celia Chan | Mandy Choi | Jamie Li | Gigi Yuen
Model
Kathy Lo
School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) has been proactively contributing to safeguarding of Hong Kong Cheongsam Making Technique. A holistic program with concurrent conservation strings of inheritance and innovation has been unfolded. In league with the historical studies, documentations, archive establishments, and constructive design researches on the ICH being conducted by our academics, a two-phase contemporary Hong Kong cheongsam design project has been launched, engaging design students who are enthusiastic about this ICH of Hong Kong.
In the first phase of the project, nine students completed a cheongsam tailoring course in the summer of 2022 provided by two active practitioners, Casey Lee, an up-and-coming cheongsam tailor, and Eunice Lee, an executive committee member of the Hong Kong Cheongsam Association (HKCA). The students practiced and applied the tailoring techniques attained to design contemporary Chinese culture-inspired fashion outfits. Sponsored by Lenzing Fibres (Hong Kong) Limited, Prosperity Textiles, and Stella Blu Textile Limited, a collection of nine outfits has been created with the sustainable material TENCELTM LUXE and various eco-friendly indigo-inspired fabrics together with advanced textile technologies, including laser engraving, digital printing, machine embroidery, and digital jacquard weaving. From the perspectives of inheritance and innovation, this virtual exhibition showcases not only the creative outfits skilfully crafted with the traditional technique and advanced technologies but also the collective appreciation and enthusiasm of all the collaborators in this ICH of Hong Kong.
The project curation team would like to express our sincere appreciation to the students for their great effort and passion in succeeding the traditional craft. Secondly, we are grateful to our industry partners for the generous material sponsorship. Moreover, appreciation also goes to HKCA, Casey, and Eunice for their professional advices, training, and assistance. Lastly, we extend our gratitude for the technical support in the workshops and the financial support of SFT.
Organizer
School of Fashion and Textiles
Educational Partner
Hong Kong Cheongsam Association
Sponsors
Lenzing Fibers (Hong Kong) Limited
Prosperity Textiles
Stella Blu Textile Limited
Chief Curator
Haze Ng
Deputy Curator
Jackie Leung
Executive Curator
Katrina Tsai
Cheongsam Tailoring Course Instructors
Eunice Lee | Casey Lee
Workshop Technical Supports
Kevin Hui | Rachel Lau | Shui-wing Ng | Suki Siu | Sunny Wan
Student Designers
Natalie Chan | Daphne Cheng | Quinn Cheng | Joey Choi | Marcus Kuo | Sabrina Lau | Nicole Ng | Yoyo Tang | Eloise Wong
Photographers
Cathy Chan | Amber Wong
Hair and Make-up Artist
Psych Ng
Shooting Assistants
Celia Chan | Mandy Choi | Jamie Li | Gigi Yuen
Model
Kathy Lo
