Just announced: "Mao to Now: Chinese Fashion from 1949 to the Present"

A new exhibition spanning Chinese fashion over the last century is coming to the Goldstein Museum of Design in October. Co-sponsored by the University's China Center, the show features the work of four well-known Chinese fashion designers - Wu Haiyan, Liu Canming, Wang Yiyang, and Zhang Da - as well photographs by high-profile Chinese journalists.

Design by Liu Canming

The show illustrates how dramatically Chinese fashion has changed throughout the twentieth century, from the pre-Maoist, dynastic period (1912-1948), to the conservative time of the ubiquitous Mao suit (1949-1977), to today's progressive trend-setters (1978-present). The exhibition traces the development of apparel in China and introduces some of the country's most influential designers.

During a three-day symposium and opening reception kicking off the exhibition, the symposium will include a series of public lectures given by visiting professors (including Dr. Hazel Clark, Dean of the School of Art and Design History and Theory at Parsons the New School for Design) and Chinese designers.

Design by Liu Canming

Adding a local twist, local designers Mark Caligiuri, Laura Fulk, and Luci Kandler and Ashley Wokasch of Calpurnia Peach will participate in a workshop.

"Mao to Now: Chinese Fashion from 1949 to the Present" at the Goldstein Museum of Design, McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Ave., St. Paul, 612-624-7434, www.goldstein.umn.edu. Opening reception with designer meet-and-greet: 6-8 p.m. October 1. Symposium: October 1-3. Exhibition runs October 2, 2010, to January 17, 2011.

Design by Wu Haiyan

Designer Bios:

Liu Canming is Associate Professor in the Fashion Art & Design Institute at Donghua University and teaches fashion design. He is the Chief Art Director of two popular brands, ZIGE and CM∙Loose. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute at Donghua University and his master’s from the European Institute of Design (IED). He was one of China’s “Top Ten Fashion Designers” in 2007 and has shown designs at Chicago Fashion week in 2008 and 2009.

Wang Yiyang runs two fashion labels: ZUCZUG and CHA GANG. He received his bachelor’s degree in fashion design from China Textile University (now Donghua University), where he taught fashion design. Chen Yifei hired Wang Yiyang to design his new brand, Layefe, in 1997. He was very successful at Layefe and later launched his own labels in 2001 and 2004, respectively. ZUCZUG now has over forty stores in China.

Zhang Da created the women’s wear label BOUNDLESS in 2005. He received his bachelor’s degree from the North‐West Institute of Textile Science and Technology (now Xi’an Polytechnic University). His works have been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum and his designs have been shown in many countries across the world.