Title
Cheongsam
Year/Period
c. 1920
Region
Singapore
Material
Dimension
Object size: 102.7 x 63.0 cm
Accession No.
2017-01109
Collection of
This light pink cheongsam has printed florals motifs decorating its body and long sleeves. Typical of early cheongsams, it has an A-line fit, and minimal embroidered floral borders highlighting the cylindrical collar, cuffs, and the asymmetrical opening. Its label reads ‘Wah Wing & CO. Shanghai Dress Maker, 54 Bras Basah Road, Singapore’. The cheongsam became popular in 1920s Shanghai, viewed as a leading fashion capital by the Chinese and Peranakan communities in that time. To cater to the demand for Shanghainese fashion, Cantonese and Shanghainese dressmakers opened shops in Bras Basah Road, North Bridge Road, and High Street, creating similar clothing styles in Singapore.
