Category: China clothes culture

I. What Is the Qipao? The qipao (also widely known as the cheongsam) is China’s most iconic traditional women’s garment. It originated in Shanghai in the early 20th century, blending features of the robes worn by Manchu banner people with Han Chinese clothing, gradually evolving into its modern form. Cut from a single piece of …

What contemporary Chinese women wear defies simple summarisation in just one or two words. If we look at trends for 2026, the most striking shift is this: the guiding principle of dressing has moved from “What will others think?” back to “What feels good to me.” Traditional garments are broken down into everyday pieces for …

Traditional Chinese attire worn by Chinese people is not a single uniform style. Instead, Huafu, the umbrella term, covers an enormous system that includes ethnic costumes and dynastic silhouettes throughout history. In contemporary contexts, the “traditional garments” worn by ordinary people for daily use or ceremonial occasions mainly fall into Hanfu, qipao, tangzhuang, the Zhongshan …

Can White People Wear Tang Suits? Understanding Culture, Identity and Respect The question may seem to concern clothing, but it touches on much deeper issues of culture, identity and respect. My answer is yes: white people can wear Tang suits. However, how a garment is worn and the context in which it is presented help …