Study of authentic craftsmanship of Hong Kong men's cheongsam

Abstract

Cheongsam is one of the most notable Chinese traditional clothing of the last century. Menswear cheongsam has been designated as men's formal attire during the Nationalist era, which continues as one of the ceremonial attires in the 21st century. The menswear cheongsam has its unique shape and form, a classical piece of clothing filled with one-of-a-kind traditional Chinese craftsmanship. By exploring the historical and cultural development of the evolution of cheongsam, the silhouette and form of men’s cheongsam have not changed much during the years and periods. With the traditional cheongsam-making technique listed on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, the alert of inheritance has been raised. With the situation that women’s cheongsam is still active as many women wear it as formal attire as well as daily wear, the men’s cheongsam is highly endangered with less attention and public awareness. With the passing away of masters and the fact that fewer young tailors are joining the industry. In addition, the craftsmanship used to rely on oral transmission and there was no written record of the detailed production process. Thus, the art of making classic and authentic men's cheongsam is lacking in both documentation and tailors. To preserve the men’s cheongsam, the whole tailoring process needs to be recorded, as well as introducing the authentic form and shape to the public. This project aims to develop complete documentation of cheongsam craftsmanship and the tailoring process with the help of veteran masters and scholars, to alleviate the possibility of losing the unique Chinese attire.