Living Heritage: Cheongsam

Film Info

Film Year: 2020

Film Duration: 9 min

Country: Hong Kong

Language: Chinese (Mandarin)

Director

Adrian Lo

Film Category

best score

Synopsis

From Fleur in the movie “Rouge” or Su Li Zhen in “In the Mood for Love”, both the glamorous patterns and the simple cuttings of the cheongsam embody the beauty of traditional Chinese women. Sewing, fabric cutting, binding production are just some of the many complex technical skills required in making this iconic dress. All of which are now on the verge of vanishing completely as the art of bespoke tailoring has paved way for ready-to-wear fashion. In this film, master tailor Fung Yau-choi, a last bastion of the Shanghai School, tells us what cheongsam making means to him and how such an important part of Chinese cultural heritage should be preserved.