Si Jing, the pen name of Ng Soo Lui, (extreme right) was a prolific female writer in the Chinese community. Born in Singapore in 1934, she has written extensively on her childhood and life in Chinatown. Both girls in the photograph are wearing ‘samfoos’, a traditional Chinese outfit which consists of a top (‘sam’) with side fastenings and a mandarin collar, worn over pants (‘foo’). Traditionally, the ‘samfoo’ is loose fitting. The cut of the ‘samfoo’ makes it convenient for the wearer to carry out everyday activities. However, during the 1950s and 1960s, the ‘samfoo’ became tight fitting under the influence of Western fashion. The boy is wearing a Chinese tunic suit, widely known as the ‘Mao’ suit. This photograph is part of the donor’s personal photograph collection.
