Black gummed silk (known as xiangyunsha香云纱 or heijiaochou黑胶绸 in Chinese) was a popular material used in the tailoring of summer clothing in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in the 1920s to 1930s. It has a distinctive black shiny surface which is waterproof and a matt brown underside which reveals an underlying weave of varying patterns. It originates in the district of Shunde in Guangdong province and is still being made there today.This jacket belonged to Mr Kaan Tat Choi, who was a successful businessman in the bullion business. Mr Kan expanded his business from Hong Kong to Malaya in the 1920s, acquiring several rubber plantations along the east coast of Malaya. He also opened a bullion trading company called “Yee Shing” at 20 Canal Road in Singapore in the 1930s.
