Chinese Clothing

The Qipao• The qipao is a typical traditional Chinese

costume. After Nurhaci ,a great militarist and statesman, unified the Nvzhen tribes and set up the Eight Banners ,an nationality called “Manchu” was estabilshed in the early 17th century. Their people were called “Qi people” and their clothing was called “Qipao”

• . At first ,a qipao looks just like this: a round collar,narrow sleeves ,a right overlapping. Their dresses are always the same pattern, only the material changes during the four seasons. After the Manchu entered and hosted the central plains of China, the style and material of qipao have changed a lot. For example, the sleeves became profuse so that people can move more easily, and silk was used to make qipao more comfortable in summer.

Modern ChinaWith China predicted to become the world's biggest luxury market within the next decade, every well-known international label

wants a piece of China's retail pie. In the Oriental Plaza mall in Beijing, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and MaxMara have all opened sleek new shops. There is a popular conception that the Chinese are obsessed with big brands, and to a great extent this is true. there is a huge difference between north and south China believes that in the north people want to dress in a

more loud, conceptual way, and in the south, they are more influenced by their friends. Overall, however, the years of forced uniformity have given way to a new desire for individuality, and while for some this might be simply a desire to show off their wealth through status logos, others, particularly young people, are embracing more experimental, street styles.

Chinese military wearShang Dynasty Tang Dynasty Ming Dynasty Qin Dynasty

1500-1066 B.C. A.D. 618-907 A.D. 1368-1644 A.D. 1644-1911