The introduction of the interviewee-Master Chen Zhongxin We search the costume designer of the movie “the Assassin” through Internet who is Master Chen Zhongxin from Yufeng qipao located in the alley of Dihua Street. Master Chen’s father is also a master who makes qipao too; Chen learned it by osmosis so after he grew up, he passes on the family business and even carries it forward. In addition to cultural men settle on the qipao that Master Chen made, he also helps to design many drama’s costumes. He even comes into favor with Hou Hsiaohsien who is a world-famous film director, and designs the costumes of the leading characters in the movie “the Assassin” He was awarded the honor of “the soul of craftsman” from the General association of Chinese culture.

▲Master Chen Zhongxin talks about his work of qipao with great relish.

Q1：Can you roughly tell us when did you start to enter this field of qipao making? Are there anything unforgettable in the process?
A：There’s nothing unforgettable, but one thing which is hard to forget is you need to do it by yourself when you want to take it up a notch. You ask about an unforgettable thing is there’s no use if making qipao goes wrong, there is no use to make a new one. Because making a clothes costs twenty to thirty thousand dollars currently, we don’t have so much money to make another one. “I must make every quipao works.” No matter what kind the fabric it is, even a fabric I haven’t seen it before. I have to know the difference, and improve myself next time.

Q2：If there is any mistake during the process of manufacturing, what do you usually deal with it?
A：In early time I would make mistakes, but learning from mistakes, then the same mistakes won’t happen again.

Q3：Why do you have a soft spot for making qipao?
A：My father came from Mainland China. I was much concerned about my personal life after graduation. Because I’m the eldest child in my family, and I don’t have many relatives. I had no idea what kind of jobs I can do, and it happened to have position available in making qipao in my family. No one could pass down my father’s qipao industry; therefore, I started to learn the techniques of making qipao.

Q4：Can you tell us what is the most difficult part of making qipao. What’s the basic requirement to learn qipao making?
A：For me, I’ve made hundreds or even thousands of qipao, I can handle all kinds of problems. I really don’t think there is any tough problem. But measuring definitely can’t go wrong. It’s because qipao has different feeling through different figures.

Q5：You think qipao can be called national clothes in China. What’s the most significant feature?
A： I am not quite sure about this. But there are many women with higher social status would come all the way here to have qipao customize nowadays, so they can were it in different occasions. From above, you can see qipao is unique.

Q6：Do you think qipao can mix with western outfits? If the answer is yes, then which part can be mixed; if the answer is no, what’s the reason?
A：It’s not special. We make it according to customer’s request. We offer any style that customer prefer. It totally depends on customer’s preference.

Q7：What kind of occasion in daily life you think is the most suitable place wearing qipao? Why?
A：Most are customized for attending some formal ceremonies; some are fond of wearing qipao in daily life. And few people want to have their own qipao because of getting married and keeping some memory.

Q8：For us vocational high students, how can we know more about qipao?
A：You can come to our workshop anytime if you like, you are always welcome. After you grow up, you can have a customize qipao or learn in here.

Q9：Q: Last question, if you have a choice, will you still take qipao making as your career?
A： No, modern people enjoy life, and so do I. Learning to make qipao is very time-consuming and laborious. If I can have a better life, of course I’ll take it.