The old is fresh again. This time, it's a centuries-old Chinese skirt style that's becoming fashionable. Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu are among the cities where the "mamianqun," or "horse face skirt," is being worn by young people in China who are giving the outfit a contemporary touch through unusual fabric choices and combinations, reported CNN.
The pleated, frequently brocade skirts that were previously the exclusive domain of "hanfu" enthusiasts—a revival of the traditional attire worn by ethnic Han Chinese prior to the Qing dynasty—have found their way into regular wardrobes.
The popularity of the skirt has given rise to a more general trend known as "xinzhongshi," or "new Chinese style," which combines modern and traditional Chinese aesthetics in everything from furniture to clothes.
Retailers are quick to capitalize on Gen Z's patriotic and occasionally nationalistic views by using the broad word as a marketing tool on China's lucrative e-commerce platforms, even though the concept is not new and was formerly seen to be outdated.
According to state news agency Xinhua, searches for "new Chinese style" and "new Chinese style outfits" on Chinese social media sites Weibo and Xiaohongshu surpassed 100 million in early April. In addition to fashion, the articles feature anything from mobile phone wallpapers of landscape paintings to stuffed leather recliners with the rounded edges of traditional Chinese wood furniture.
The market for apparel in the "new Chinese style" is expected to reach 1 billion yuan (about 138 million USD) in 2023, according to the state-backed China National Textile and Apparel Council.
According to state news agency Xinhua, searches for "new Chinese style" and "new Chinese style outfits" on Chinese social media sites Weibo and Xiaohongshu surpassed 100 million in early April. In addition to fashion, the articles feature anything from mobile phone wallpapers of landscape paintings to stuffed leather recliners with the rounded edges of traditional Chinese wood furniture.
The market for apparel in the "new Chinese style" is expected to reach 1 billion yuan (about 138 million USD) in 2023, according to the state-backed China National Textile and Apparel Council.
The majority of those pursuing the trend are young individuals, according to Huang Weizhe, 32, who works as a manager and designer for the regional clothing line Longfuji.
Huang posts about "new Chinese style" outfits on social media. In one of his posts, he sports a loose silk shirt paired with trousers."The 'new Chinese style' (trend) is more inclusive because there are no rigid rules to follow. He said over the phone to CNN, "This is the style that young people like now". | BGNES