The cheongsam, a traditional Chinese women’s garment that came into vogue in the 1920s, has captured the hearts of women across generations as a graceful long dress. In the dynamic landscape of fashion, the attire has not only withstood the test of time for a century but also continuously evolved to incorporate innovation while preserving the essence of its tradition, catering to the ever-changing fashion trends and preferences of women throughout different eras. Over time, tailoring techniques have undergone transformations and upgrading so as to align with market trends and development.
The modern-style cheongsam integrates more innovative elements and craftsmanship, featuring a unique and captivating character. It allows for a harmonious fusion of tradition and modernity, exuding a distinctive allure.
The Timeless Elegance – Greater Bay Area Modern Chinese Cheongsam Exhibition, presented by the Macao Fashion Gallery, has garnered significant support from esteemed organizations such as the Guangdong Association of Garment and Garment Article Industry, the Guangdong Fashion Designers Association, and the Hong Kong Fashion Farm Foundation. Collaborating with talented fashion designers hailing from Macao, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, this exhibition not only upholds the rich traditions of Chinese culture but also seamlessly integrates modern aesthetics. Together, these endeavors champion the advancement of the fashion industry within the Greater Bay Area.
This exhibition unites the fashion design talents from Macao, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, presenting a meticulously curated collection of nine stunning ensembles. Take for example Phoebe Lai, a representative of Macao. Her works center on capturing the essence of Chinese fashion aesthetics. Lai skillfully infuses casual elements inspired by monochromatic Chinese ink paintings, highlighting a strong sense of fashion. Next comes Mo Hua (Hou Xiaolin) from Guangzhou, whose collection combines the colors xuan (yellow) and xun (Chinese red) with the exquisite artistry of intangible cultural heritage handcrafted embroidery, exuding an air of elegance and nobility. Jessica Lau and Walter Kong, designers from Hong Kong, craftily preserve the essence of the cheongsam while introducing hidden elements through the integration of scarves. These versatile ensembles can be paired with pants or skirts, adding a touch of uniqueness and playfulness to the overall garment design (listed in no particular order).
The wheel of fashion is constantly rolling forward. Receiving the education provided by professional fashion schools, emerging fashion designers are poised to lead the fashion industry into a new chapter of development with guts and innovation. They are eager to sustain the vitality and appeal of the fashion industry by weaving their youthful vigor and fashion talent into unique fashion stories.
With support from the School of Design of Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, the School of Fashion and Textiles of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Shenzhen Polytechnic, and Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center to promote cooperation in the fashion industry in the Greater Bay Area, the Macao Fashion Gallery (MFG) has organized the “Emerging Fashion – Exhibition of Works by Emerging Fashion Designers from the Greater Bay Area”, which brings together eight new-generation designers with unlimited passion for design to jointly create a new chapter for the fashion industry on the cultural and creative platform provided by the MFG, drawing on their ingenuity.
The exhibition displays eight sets of designs created by fashion design students from Zhuhai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macao, including An Zhaer, Bo Yiyang (Zhuhai), Chan Pak Yu, Yumiko Li (Hong Kong), Tian Huanzhong, Xie Mingjun (Shenzhen), Yoyo Kuan and Polly Cheong (Macao) (in no particular order). The artworks cover a wide range of themes, from digital images, graffiti art, and ancient Chinese styles to sustainable environmental protection, with each featuring a distinctive design style. The designs incorporate an assortment of techniques, such as digital printing, 3D printing, and ink writing. The design of these works demonstrates the designers’ passion and pursuit of fashion while presenting to the public the GBA’s ambition and subtlety in cultural innovation.
With the digital upgrade and the advent of the metaverse, virtual fashion and digital fashion brands are springing up, whose virtual fashion collections have even made their way to different fashion shows. A wide variety of dazzling avant-garde fashion products that are pouring into the fashion world are grabbing people’s attention, creating a grander world of fantasy, and igniting innovation. The new fashion trends are now around the corner.
With the support of the Guangdong Association of Garment and Garment Article Industry, Guangdong Fashion Designers Association, and Hong Kong Fashion Farm Foundation, the Macao Fashion Gallery organizes the “Beyond the Boundaries: Boundary between Virtual and Reality – Greater Bay Area Fashion Exhibition” which will deepen the cooperation between the fashion industries of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. The exhibition combines technologies including virtual fashion showcasing, 3D-printed clothing, and AR virtual experience to propel local fashion to the next level of the Web 3.0 digital era, achieving an extraordinary demonstration of design creativity, digital technology, and aesthetic art.
The exhibition brings together four fashion pioneers (teams) from Macao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong – in no particular order, KC Fong and Fiona Sam (Macao), Bette Huang (Guangzhou), Qi Liliang (Shenzhen), and Jason Lee (Hong Kong). They skillfully intertwine fashion and technology to create new ideas and lead the way. For example, utilizing virtual fashion elements to combine physical clothing and 3D-printed works. Through the eight original costumes and the interactive special effects in the exhibition hall, the public can experience the combination of fashion and technology, the synergy of digital technology and trendy aesthetics, and the freedom to travel between the virtual and the real dimensions.
Macao has been nurtured by Chinese and Portuguese cultures for more than 400 years and maintains close ties and exchanges with Portuguese-speaking countries in terms of economics, religion, and customs, as well as humanities and society. In order to establish the city as a “Cultural Exchange Center between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, Macao has been strengthening its ties with Portuguese-speaking countries in recent years, and the continuous exchanges have enriched the cultural and creative aspects of people’s lives and spirits. When it comes to fashion design, despite the differences between Chinese and Western cultural roots, the search for the highest level of aesthetics remains the same, and this is where the unique charm of fashion is born.
With the theme “characteristics of Chinese and Portuguese culture”, the “Fashion Encounter – Fashion Designer Exchange Exhibition between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” brings together the creative forces of participating designers to present excellent Macao and Portuguese designs, showcasing the contemporary fashion and creativity of China and Portuguese-speaking countries, in an effort to facilitate exchanges between diverse cultures.
Macao fashion designer Isabella Choi and Portuguese designer Ana Cardoso have each drawn from their cultural genes and cultural literacy to incorporate Chinese and Portuguese cultural elements with creativity into their collections. Isabella Choi combines the elements of Cantonese opera costumes and Portuguese folk dance costumes in her collection, and Ana Cardoso combines traditional Chinese tailoring with the pattern of Portuguese “Azulejo” tiles in her collection. Each designer presents four works in this exhibition, where they both fully demonstrate the beauty of exchange and coexistence between Chinese and Portuguese cultures.
This exhibition is made possible thanks to the support of the University of Saint Joseph.
Rapid advances in modern technology have enriched the material and cultural experience in all aspects of human life, and fashion is no exception. Thanks to the latest technologies, fabrics are constantly evolving. Creative exploration, research and development by designers have improved fabrics such as velvet, cotton, and linen to include functionality and technological elements, for example, nanofabrics. Such an advancement broadens the possibilities for design innovation and improves the quality of life and the wearing experience, taking fashion to an even higher level.
With the tremendous support from the Guangdong Association of Garment and Garment Article Industry, Guangdong Fashion Designers Association, and Fashion Farm Foundation in Hong Kong, the Macao Fashion Gallery has organized the “Fashion ‧ Fantasy – Greater Bay Area Fashion Exhibition”. The exhibition brings together the creative power of emerging fashion designers from Macao, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong and showcases their creative talents, further promoting exchanges and interactions in cultural and creative aspects between the youth in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The three fashion designers participating in this exhibition represent a new generation that dares to create ahead of time and play out their fantasies. Simon Kuong from Macao incorporates the technology of “nano silver flexible light-emitting film” and the elements from a classic science fiction novel into his designs. Hanah from Shenzhen integrates a soft base with shimmering silk to create the “Temptation of Black Gold” which features a sense of the future. Angus Tsui from Hong Kong skillfully uses 2D and 3D elements in his designs to transcend seasonal boundaries.
Through the nine sets of original fashion designs, the public can indulge in fashion fantasy, which features a remarkable sense of technology, woven by the integration of high-tech fabrics, innovative materials, and new technology into fashion.