Han Couture Design Competition Gets Underway

NEW YORK—As the rest of the New York fashion world celebrates Fashion's Night Out on Thursday, a select group spent a very fashionable night in. At the The Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan, designers and couture lovers traveled back in time to ancient China.

Each year, international television network New Tang Dynasty Television puts together the Global Han Couture Design Competition. It puts out a call for the most traditional Chinese fashion designs with a mission to revive the essence of ancient culture through dress. This year, entrants from all over the world again replied in earnest.

“Han Couture design is not a mere reproduction of the ancient Chinese apparel and accessories, instead it draws on the apparel culture from Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties to create excellent designs that bring together features of Han culture with traditional values,” reads NTDTV's contest theme.

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 The Global Han Couture Design Competition 2009

Source: NTDTV

Beyond promoting creativity within the bounds of traditionalism, NTDTV also has a goal: revivalism. “Han” clothing is, by definition, any style traditionally worn by the ethnic Han people, who make up the majority of Chinese. When Manchurians took over the ruling of China in the Qing dynasty, Manchu dress was imposed on the populace. Traditional Chinese dress took a second blow during the Cultural Revolution, when anything smacking of feudalistic times was criticized. Add to that globalization and Western influence, and Chinese dress has virtually disappeared in China.

Since NTDTV started the annual competition in 2007, an upswing in Han clothing business has begun to take place. In Nanjing, China, a handmade Han couture business opened to enthusiasm from the public.

Thus, to the end of promoting the reappearance of Han dress in China, contestants are required to design clothing suitable for everyday wear.

Semifinal Round
Sixty-six participants or participant pairs entered this year's contest, each submitting sets of three to seven garments for men or women. Entrants hailed from Taiwan, the United States, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, and the U.K.

As models floated onto the catwalk in glossy silk, breezy cotton, gossamer, and linen, it became clear that the possibilities that Chinese dress inspires are endless. But entries must be judged by their adherence to contest regulations, and authenticity in design.

Each dynasty has its own styles, men and women wore clothing distinct from each other, and different occasions for people of various social strata called for different fabrics and cuts.

Judge Lili Yang said the three main elements of judging garment are style, fabric choice, and color harmony. “Style is correct this year,” Wang said. “Fabric should be soft for women's dress, and more hard for men, but we're still seeing women skirts that are not soft. Colors need to be in harmony.”

Winners from the semifinal round on Thursday will be announced Friday morning before the show continues. Friday evening, a fashion show will be held following the announcement of winners.

For more information, please see www.hancouture.ntdtv.com/en