PDLP Chapter 117 International Cultural Costume Design Competition (2)
Chapter 117 International Cultural Costume Design Competition (2)
Coincidentally.
The time slot during which this fashion competition was being broadcast coincided with the airing of a period drama set in the Republican era.
In summary, the TV series tells the story of a young lady from a family of cloth merchants who, in a turbulent era, supports her family and becomes a patriotic entrepreneur.
The TV series mentions many exquisite traditional Chinese crafts.
Among them is Suzhou embroidery.
This made many viewers unfamiliar with traditional embroidery think of Suzhou embroidery when they saw the patterns on the kimonos during the competition.
Furthermore, due to the subject matter of the TV dramas, many people over sixty years old usually watch TV during this time slot.
The competition's introduction focuses on designing traditional wedding attire from various countries.
The audience of the TV series happens to be the same audience for this competition.
So, although this is not the internet age and information doesn't spread quickly, various coincidences still come together.
The number of viewers watching the live broadcast of this match was surprisingly large.
Therefore, when the kimono, which resembled Suzhou embroidery, was worn, it caused a great uproar among the audience.
Many spectators even left their homes and headed straight to the competition venue to find out what was going on.
Meanwhile, reporters from various periodicals and magazines, some out of anger and others simply drawn by the news, all rushed towards the competition venue.
When the organizers noticed that more and more people were gathering outside the venue, they assumed it was due to the good effect of the live TV broadcast and did not pay much attention to it.
The organizers kept ordinary attendees out of the venue, but allowed journalists from various periodicals and magazines to enter.
The audience seats in the venue were already full, and the competition was still going on, so these reporters coming in with cameras or video cameras was very conspicuous.
Shen Wancheng and the others in the venue naturally noticed it.
Shen Yao asked.
"Are these people reporters? So many of them have come in at once. Whoever wins the championship will really become famous."
Liang Muchao agreed, "It is indeed a good opportunity to become famous."
Shen Yao looked at Shen Wancheng and said, "Won't the organizers pull some strings? With such a great opportunity, they can promote whoever they want."
Shen Wancheng stared at the reporters who were taking pictures of the catwalk and said.
"I actually hope they pull some tricks."
"Huh?" Liang Muchao asked, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"
Shen Wancheng chuckled softly.
He countered with a question to Liang Muchao.
What did you think of that dress you saw yesterday?
"It would be against all reason not to win the championship."
"So if they don't pull any tricks and give that dress first place, it's just a normal thing, and there's no gimmick."
Shen Yao nodded and said, "That makes sense."
Liang Muchao said, "That's easy. Businessmen are all driven by profit. If you encourage them, are you afraid they won't do something underhanded?"
Shen Wancheng and Shen Yao both looked at Liang Muchao.
Shen Wancheng encouraged her, "Go on."
“Look at the reactions of those foreigners in the audience; they’ve been praising that kimono so many times.”
"Most of the judges in the first row across from us are foreigners. I dare say none of them can tell the difference between the kimono and our dress. At most, they'll think they're both beautiful. As long as someone gives them a bribe, they'll say which of the two entries is better."
Liang Muchao deliberately stopped there, keeping everyone in suspense.
Shen Wancheng continued.
"So, Young Master Liang is planning to pull some strings for that kimono?"
Liang Muchao countered, "Is that alright?"
Shen Wancheng smiled and said, "Of course."
Although the idea came from Liang Muchao, he also had concerns.
"Now that you've gotten through the back door, can you turn the tide of the competition? I don't want that kimono to actually win first place."
Shen Wancheng affirmed.
"No problem, you can do it without worry."
"okay."
Liang Muchao stood up from the audience, put on sunglasses he'd somehow acquired, and swaggered away.
Shen Wancheng and Shen Yao remained in the stands to watch the game.
In fact, this competition is still very valuable for Shen Wancheng.
Although Shen Wancheng wants to create a high-end luxury brand that is primarily based on Chinese style, if she wants it to go global, it will inevitably have to incorporate other cultures.
Shen Wancheng will never adopt or integrate the cultures of Japan and South Korea, which always like to plagiarize and invade Chinese culture, but the cultures of other countries are still worth considering.
For example, we could launch a series about the four ancient civilizations, including the cultures of ancient Egypt, ancient Babylon, and ancient India. Only the cultures of these ancient civilizations are worthy of being compared with Chinese culture.
Some of the designs submitted for the competition today incorporated elements of Indian culture and Egyptian pharaohs.
Of course, there is also the European court style, but in Shen Wancheng's opinion, the European court style is too common for high-end luxury and lacks highlights.
Shen Wancheng thought the design that incorporated Egyptian pharaoh elements was very creative, and she wrote down the designer's name.
The competition was held on Hong Kong Island, and most of the participants were Chinese designers, who naturally chose to design with Chinese elements.
However, in Shen Wancheng's view, these designs all have obvious flaws.
Some people overemphasize foreign designs, with Chinese elements only appearing in the patterns of their wedding dresses.
This combination looks very incongruous.
Some Chinese designers are very xenophobic, and the wedding clothes they design are made entirely according to the style and pattern details of ancient Chinese wedding clothes.
Strictly speaking, it could be said that these designers are simply copying and restoring ancient wedding attire.
This wedding dress isn't necessarily unattractive, but it certainly doesn't meet the general aesthetic standards of foreigners.
So, in the end, Shen Wancheng didn't see a single wedding dress that she felt could rival Lan Qin's designs.
This made Shen Wancheng very glad that she was able to persuade Lan Qin, and also glad that Lan Qin was a craftswoman who was very willing to accept other people's suggestions.
If Lan Qin were a stubborn old-fashioned person, she wouldn't have been able to create this gorgeous and dazzling wedding dress for the competition.
Before we knew it, the competition was nearing its end.
Finally, it was Ye Ningshuang's turn to take the stage.
Ye Ningshuang's presentation still used the stage design from her initial interview.
She gracefully emerged from behind Veb, her face partially obscured by a round fan.
The raised arm allowed the long sleeves made of shimmering brocade to hang down naturally.
The sheer brocade, as thin as a cicada's wing and as clear as gauze, is embroidered with intricate and exquisite patterns on both sides, making it both magnificent and dignified.
Layers of auspicious clouds, edged with gold thread, stretched all the way to the end of the wedding dress's train.
The twin lotus flowers growing amidst auspicious clouds are incredibly lifelike.
A golden phoenix with outstretched wings is perched atop the twin lotus blossoms, ready to take flight.
Skillfully embroidered phoenixes fly in pairs, accompanying me every morning from behind the curtain.
This is the most typical and exquisite image in a Chinese wedding.
Ye Ningshuang's wedding dress was not a conventional Chinese dress, but a fitted long dress that resembled both a cheongsam and a fishtail skirt, with a trendy design.
However, despite the trendy design, the skirt is made of crimson brocade, and the pattern remains a traditional Chinese design.
On Ye Ningshuang, the wedding dress possessed both the vibrancy of modern aesthetics and the dignified charm of cultural heritage.
Ye Ningshuang moved gracefully and slowly to the front of the T-stage.
The stage lights shone on Ye Ningshuang's wedding dress, making it sparkle and shine.
She hadn't even shown her face yet, but the audience seemed to see a goddess from the heavens.
The audience held their breath involuntarily, and no one made a sound.
----
I'll update with one chapter first.
I'll update slowly tonight.