Gen Z Hanfu Designer: Traditional elements inspire creative design

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भदौ ५, २०८१

College students wear traditional hanfu clothing as they dance at a park in Fuyang, Anhui province, in April. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Cai Xiaotong, born in 1999, is a Hanfu designer who runs an online store in Guangzhou city, south China’s Guangdong province. “I first became interested in traditional clothing in high school, and as I learned more, I decided to pursue a career in this trade,” Cai shared.

To Cai, the cultural richness of traditional clothing is a key competitive advantage and a deep well of creative inspiration.

“We incorporate classic elements from traditional culture into our designs,” Cai explained. “For example, we created a traditional skirt inspired by Dunhuang murals, which was very well received in the market.” To date, this design has sold over 1 million pieces.

Museums and ancient dwellings are Cai’s go-to places for design inspiration. “During a visit to the Kaifeng Museum, I was inspired by the patterns on an exhibit,” Cai recalled. “Since Kaifeng was the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, we chose Song-style clothing and added elements from the painting ‘Along the River During the Qingming Festival’ to create a ‘new Hanfu’ in collaboration with the museum.”

In less than three years in the industry, Cai has witnessed the rise of traditional clothing from a niche interest to a growing trend. “The charm of traditional Chinese culture is infinite,” Cai said. “By preserving tradition and embracing innovation, I believe the appeal of Hanfu will spread even further.”