Explore the vibrant celebration of Chinese New Year through the lens of fashion. From traditional wears to modern adaptations, discover how these individuals embrace cultural heritage and express their identity through attire, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in their cultural roots.
Celebrating cultural heritage through attire
A simple question was posed to some Malaysians in Kuching and Kuala Lumpur, and their swift responses inspired me to come up with this article.
They even included a photo of what was worn for the Chinese New Year, and while the Qipao, which debuted during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), has been restyled, dragons, phoenixes, and floral motifs are still used.
It is named after the Manchu ethnic people known as the Qi, and the term pao means long gown, hence the Mandarin name Qipao.
The Cantonese-speaking Chinese call it Cheongsam, which means long gown.
The Han long gown is the traditional attire for males; however some prefer the Tang jacket suit.
Many Cheongsams are designed with a looser cut rather than a body hugging cut, allowing people of different shapes and sizes to fit in. It is now more widely used rather than exclusively for festivities and cultural events thanks to new adaptations.
Former Miss World Malaysia Datin Seri Jacqueline Ngu wore a shorter version of a modern Cheongsam on the first day of the Chinese New Year.
Looking gorgeous, Ngu said, “I’m wearing a Cheongsam by Malaysian designer Kenneth Hoong (Butterfly), Manolo Blahnik heels, with a Hermes B25 handbag.”
She said that Chinese New Year has always held great significance for her.
“It’s the most important occasion for us to come together to honour our traditions, strengthen familial bonds, embrace our cultural heritage, and usher in good fortune for the year ahead. I love the vibrant festivities, which include colourful decorations, lion dances, and sumptuous meals shared with our loved ones.
“To me, it’s also a time of joy, reflection, gratitude, and anticipation for the opportunities that await in the new year,” added Ngu.
For Wendy Ling, she opted for a body-hugging white velvet Cheongsam.
“White symbolises purity, simplicity, and elegance. The floral patterns on my Cheongsam provided a touch of vibrancy and femininity to the overall appearance of the modern Cheongsam,” said Ling, a Kuching native who is now based in Kuala Lumpur.
Personally, Chinese New Year evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and connectedness to her cultural roots.
Born into a mixed-race family of Chinese and Iban descent, Ling has the opportunity to show the beauty of each celebration to both sides of her family, particularly her Iban family during Chinese New Year.
“Chinese New Year allows us to cherish traditions and the joy of eating meals with loved ones. It gives me a great sense of warmth and belonging,” she added.
On the first day of Chinese New Year, Jimmy Lim, who is from Kuala Lumpur, sported a neon yellow and red attire.
“I like the vibrancy as it is not the usual ‘safe’ Chinese New Year clothing colour; it is bright, friendly, and promotes good Chi!” said the fashion designer, whose favourite happy colour is yellow.
He also said that he likes the print on the garment because the technique used to create it is very interesting, with an amplified digital shot of an embroidered Chinese dragon being digitally printed onto a fabric.
“Definitely one of my favourite Chinese New Year go-to pieces! I believe that Chinese New Year evokes a sense of immense energy exchange. It is a time when people meet and reconnect, showering everyone with good affirmations, resulting in very positive chi and peace surrounding them,” he added.
Candy Chen’s long red Qipao was created by local designer Ben Nazry, who ensured that the gown fit her model figure.
“The English New Year is celebrated on January 1, according to the Gregorian calendar. However, Asians, particularly Chinese, celebrate New Year beginning with the Lunar Year, which began on February 10 of this year,” she said, looking stunning in her attire.
Meanwhile, Michael Liew decided to wear a classic long Han gown over his long pants.
“There’s a special buzz in the air since the Year of the Dragon is significant in Chinese culture as it denotes strength and good fortune. It offers us an extra sense of hope and happiness. Plus, after a difficult two or three years of pandemic, we need something positive. After going through tough times, we are all looking forward to celebrating with our families and friends even more,” said Liew, who is shown in the photo in Han attire and Lorna Hui in an adaptation of a classic Chinese wear.
When I was at the Garden Mall in Kuala Lumpur, I spotted a lady with an interesting large tattoo on her right arm that was really beautifully done.
To my astonishment, she is a Sarawakian from Sibu named Tong Sio Yu. Her modern Cheongsam wonderfully highlighted her curves. Understandable given that she goes to the gym!
On the second day of Chinese New Year, while visiting Kuala Lumpur’s largest Chinese temple, I met two Vietnamese ladies from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. They admired my peachy embroidered loose modern Cheongsam, and I praised them for wearing traditional Ao Dai.
We were all proud of our heritage, and by donning traditional attire, we felt connected to culture.
