The Evergreen Classic – Transformation of the Qipao
23 June – 13 September 2010
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Closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays) |
Special Exhibition Gallery
Admission Fee (including "The Hong Kong Story" permanent exhibition):
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Standard：HK$10
Group of 20 or more：HK$7
Full-time students / senior citizens / people with disabilities：HK$5 |
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Free Admission on Wednesdays |
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Free Admission for holders of Museum Pass and Weekly Pass |
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Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Institute of Textiles & Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Organised by the Hong Kong Museum of History
In association with the Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Showcasing some 280 qipao, this exhibition illustrates the origins of the qipao and its transformation between the 1920s and 1960s, evolving along with the changing social and cultural societies. Despite retirement in the late 1960s from its role as daily garment for women, the qipao continued to exist in many different ways. This exhibition analyses how the qipao has constructed a cultural symbol from a piece of clothing, and how contemporary fashion designers have injected fashion and modern elements into it, making it transforming continuously. For this exhibition, we have invited teaching staff of the Institute of Textiles & Clothing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to design qipao to be showcased in this exhibition, to give new perspectives on how a contemporary training institute of fashion design interprets the qipao tradition. Besides featuring qipao from different times, this exhibition also includes the qipao worn by the Beijing Olympics ceremony hostesses in 2008 as well as that worn by Mrs Gwen Kao, wife of Nobel Laureate Prof. Charles Kao, at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
The Museum offers public guided tours and pre-booked group visit with docent services from 30 June 2010 (Wed) onwards.
Group Visits
Public Guided Tours (in Cantonese)
Each tour lasts for about 1 hour and admits 30 persons on a first come, first served basis. Please gather at the “Docent Stop” at the entrance of the Special Exhibition Gallery according to the following schedule：
Session 1：11:30 am daily
Session 2：3 pm daily
Special Exhibition Lectures
Programmes for Special Exhibition
Exhibition Pamphlet of "The Evergreen Classic - Transformation of the Qipao"
Papermodel of "The Evergreen Classic – Transformation of the Qipao"
Visitors' Views
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These photographs show noble Manchu women during the mid to late Qing dynasty. The gowns reflect a design typical of the time. With a loose, straight cut and wide sleeves, the long gowns fall to their ankles. Embellishments and details were especially important in Qing dynasty attire. The gown of the period often featured complicated patterns with the body, collar, cuffs and front-flap adorned with extravagant embroidery.
(Left) Courtesy of the National Museum of China
(Right) © Guangzhou Integrated Image Co., Ltd.
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Multi-layered trimmings are especially distinctive and vivid on light coloured gowns.
Courtesy of the Shanghai Library |
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A woman wearing a qipao with inverted bell-shaped sleeves in Hong Kong, 1920s.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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The early qipao of the 1920s has a loose body with straight cut, reminiscent of the long Manchurian gown. Yet, like other clothing worn daily, the hemline of the skirt has been shortened to the heels. The sleeves, meanwhile, take on the bell-shaped style extremely popular at that time.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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School girls in qipao at the Canton Christian College, Guangzhou, 1927.
Courtesy of the Yale Divinity School Library |
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In the 1920s, the qipao featured a wide, straight cut and inverted bell-shaped sleeves.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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In the 1930s, the fashionable women of Shanghai always wore a qipao of long and slender cut with a pair of high heels. This photograph shows the Shanghai film celebrity, Chen Yanyan, around 1935.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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During the 1930s, pets were regarded as symbols of status and modernity.
© Guangzhou Integrated Image Co., Ltd. |
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Shanghai, around 1935.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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Shanghai, mid-1930s.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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The see-through qipao was extremely popular during the 1930s.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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The women featured on calendar posters often wear see-through qipao, reflecting that the style was in vogue at the time.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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Happy Valley Racecourse, Hong Kong, around 1955.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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Wanchai, 1960s. This photograph was taken by Hong Kong photographer, Mr Yau Leung.
Courtesy of the Information Services Department |
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Hong Kong waterfront, 1960s.
Courtesy of the Information Services Department |
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A typical qipao of the 1950s and 1960s, with a slim cut at the waist to highlight the feminine curves.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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Qipao, 1940s.
This qipao belonged to Ms Lam Yee-mui. Ms Lam was a renowned Cantonese opera singer in the 1920s whose stage name was Soo Chow Mui.
Collection of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum |
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Qipao of Dr Leung Kit-wah, 1960s.
Dr Leung Kit-wah is the daughter of the late merchant, Dr Leung Kau-kui, and an artist of Lingnan School.
Collection of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum |
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Qipao of film star Lin Dai, 1950s-1960s.
Courtesy of the Hong Kong Film Archive |
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During the 1960s, stores often made iron calendar plates for their customers in an effort to promote their business. These often feature trendy women dressed in the qipao. This is a calendar plate of Kwong Sang Hong Ltd. that was printed by China Can Co. (HK) Ltd. in the 1960s.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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Flower buttons are often used at the collar and front-flap of the qipao. The buttons come in all sorts of shapes besides flowers including birds, insects, fish and auspicious patterns. Sometimes they are made in special shapes to match the patterns on the shell fabric. The buttons can be monochrome, bicoloured or tricoloured, and the use of colour can complement those found of the shell fabric, piping and bindings.
Courtesy of the Hong Kong Wearing Apparel Industry Employees General Union |
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Winter uniform of the Ying Wa Girls’ School
Courtesy of the Ying Wa Girls' School |
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Server's uniform, Tao Heung Seafood Hotpot Restaurant, 1996.
Courtesy of the Tao Heung Group |
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The qipao Mrs Loletta Lo wore in the 1977 Miss Hong Kong Pageant.
Courtesy of Mrs Loletta Lo |
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This is the qipao worn by Ms Nansun Shi at her wedding, designed by Mr William Chang.
Courtesy of Ms Nansun Shi |
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This is the qipao worn by Josephine Siao to a banquet of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) in 1976. It was also designed by her mother Cheng Jia He. The Chinese-style embroidered decorative borders were from her mother’s collection of the 1930s.
Courtesy of Ms Josephine Siao Fong-fong |
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Based on her performance in Summer Snow, Josephine Siao won numerous Best Actress Awards at film ceremonies across the globe. This is the qipao Siao wore to Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards ceremony in 1995, designed by fashion designer Barney Cheng.
Courtesy of Ms Josephine Siao Fong-fong |
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In 2009, Professor Charles Kao was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. His wife, Mrs Gwen Kao Wong May-wan, had a qipao specially made in Hong Kong for the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. According to Mrs Kao, she chose the qipao for this important occasion because the dress is a Chinese cultural symbol and it highlights a woman’s gracefulness, elegance and vitality.
Designed by Mr Edmond Wong.
Courtesy of Mrs Gwen Kao |
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The elements of the qipao were adopted in the design of uniform worn by the ceremony hostesses of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of History |
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Qipao of Mrs. Lee Look Ngan Kwan, 1990s.
Collection of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum |
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Qipao of Mrs Vera Waters, 1990s.
Mrs Waters wears the qipao for everyday use, working life, social engagements or other important occasions.
Collection of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum |
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Kesi qipao
Although the qipao was no longer worn as daily dress after the late 1960s, there are long established retailers selling the qipao. Chinese Arts & Crafts (HK) Co., Ltd. is one of them. This is the kesi qiao of Chinese Arts & Crafts (HK) Co., Ltd.
Courtesy of the Chinese Arts & Crafts (HK) Co., Ltd. |
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Design by SHIATZY CHEN
Courtesy of SHIATZY CHEN |
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This design is an all-time favourite by Blanc de Chine. The front-flap opens at the right shoulder. Without any adornment, this qipao radiates a simple aura and conveys a serene and reserved impression highlighting a woman’s gracefulness and elegance.
Courtesy of Blanc de Chine |
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This qipao is also an all-time favourite style by Blanc de Chine. The relatively short skirt is suitable for daily wear. This red qipao is especially popular in the United States.
Courtesy of Blanc de Chine |
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Creating a light and modern effect, transparent fabric is used on one shoulder of this qipao designed by Blanc de Chine. The skirt adopts a western floor-length design, thus embodying a fusion of Chinese and western elements.
2007
Courtesy of Blanc de Chine |
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Evolution
Designer: Ms Jin Lam
Courtesy of the Institute of Textiles & Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
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The Deconstruction of Qipao
Designer: Ms Gloria Wong
Courtesy of the Institute of Textiles & Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
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The Deconstruction of Qipao
Designer: Ms Gloria Wong
Courtesy of the Institute of Textiles & Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
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Designer: Ms Cheng Hiu, Febbie
Courtesy of the Institute of Textiles & Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
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Capture the significant figure of women
Designer: Ms Wing Choi
Courtesy of the Institute of Textiles & Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
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