New fashion exhibit shows how women's roles changed in Singapore and China

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New fashion showroom shows how women's roles changed in Singapore and China

The exhibit at Lord's day Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall opens on Jun 12 and features close to a hundred artefacts ranging from garments to posters.

The exhibition titled Mod Women of the Republic: Fashion and Change in China and Singapore volition be held at Lord's day Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. (Art: Jasper Loh)

11 Jun 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 09 Jul 2022 05:14AM)

There are many factors affecting how women apparel themselves. Be it a new job or a lifestyle change, women'due south clothing continue to accurately represent a country'southward political, social and economic advancements.

And according to archival documents, women experienced the near significant changes from the late 1880s to the 1970s – at least in Singapore and China.

A new showroom at the Dominicus Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is putting the spotlight on women and their key contributions to society past manner of fashion and more than.

Titled Modern Women of the Republic: Fashion and Change in China and Singapore, it opens on Saturday (Jun 12) and runs until Dec 12.

"Fashion, besides beingness a form of cocky-expression, is oftentimes a reflection of the times. This is why nosotros chose way every bit a medium to tap into broader conversations to discuss women'southward multi-faceted and ever-irresolute roles beyond history," explained Tan Yan Ni, an assistant curator at Dominicus Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall.

A car was used in the backdrop to reflect women'due south increased independence and social mobility. 1961 was also the year that the Women's Charter was passed in Singapore. (Photograph: Collection of Mr Yong Sai Sheng)

"Information technology is also timely for us to explore this topic as 2022 is the Year of Celebrating SG Women, and we promise to spark off more than discussions among Singaporeans about what constitutes a modern woman today," Tan added.

Here's what yous can expect from the three-function showcase.

IMPACT OF POLITICAL CHANGES ON WOMEN

Amongst the dubiety and turmoil faced by the citizens from the 1890s to the 1930s, the Chinese government called for a ban on the practise of foot and breast binding.

Equally the country embraced more freedom, more local tailors in Red china started to employ Westernised pattern elements on the cheongsam for a more fitting effect.

The women's jacket-blouse features the "boys at play" motifs to reverberate their preference for boys. (Photo: Collection of Mr. Hok Pui Leung and Mrs. Sally Yu Leung)

Known equally the aureate age of the cheongsam, the period from the 1920s to the 1940s was too the time the idea of a "modern woman" and her role was formed.

In a poster for a cigarette brand, the model wears a fitted cheongsam set in a Western-inspired dressing room – depicting the ideal life of a "modern woman". (Photograph: Collection of Lord's day Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall)

Dubbed the "civilized new outfit", the structural blouse with satin embroidered details was worn by man of affairs and philanthropist Tan Kah Kee's daughter on her nuptials twenty-four hour period in Malacca in 1928. (Photo: Collection of National Museum of Singapore)

The front end opening of the cheongsam, called jin in Chinese, boasts many variations such as the straight camber front end and pipa front. (Photo: Collection of Mr. Hok Pui Leung and Mrs. Sally Yu Leung)

INFLUENCE OF PRINT MEDIA ON WOMEN'S FASHION

The exponential growth of impress media the likes of fashion magazines and editorial ads from the 1930s to the 1960s had inevitably led to women having increased appetites for consumerism.

Think bold experimentations and evolving new concepts of modernity in the everyday life.

While the Chinese used to deem body-hugging swimsuits as "scandalous", they became widely accustomed in Singapore equally they were often featured in the press and print collaterals.

A 1950s getai star Huang Xia in a strapless swimsuit covered the front page of the popular magazine Nanyang Radio Weekly. (Photo: Collection of Mr. Su Zhang Kai)

Though the bikini was introduced in 1946, it was only after Globe War II that more than elastic materials similar nylon and latex became popularly used in wear. (Photo: Collection of National Museum of Singapore)

Power DRESSING FOR WOMEN

The concluding part of the exhibition shines a spotlight on how fashion empowered working women in Singapore's early days.

Every bit more women joined the workforce and became financially independent from the 1950s to the 1970s, they became more than enlightened about their appearances. This gave rise to the increasing popularity of the style and beauty industries.

Thank you to increased exposure to films depicting Western-inspired fashion and trends, feminine designs like a cinched waist and an A-line skirt were highly sought afterwards past young working women as imported fabrics were made affordable.

Made popular past French luxury mode house Christian Dior in 1947, the i-slice wearing apparel accentuates a adult female's figure with modern sensibilities. (Photo: Collection of National Museum of Singapore)

And if you're i for small-scale details, look out for a special scent permeating the memorial hall (Hint: It should smell similar a perfumed cosmetic product). A clever tie-up with Swiss perfumery Givaudan, it was created with the intent to throw visitors back in time.

The exhibition, which runs from Jun 12 to December 12, will exist open from 10am to 5pm from Tuesdays to Sundays at Sunday Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall.

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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/fashion-exhibition-modern-women-design-western-singapore-china-248236

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