Chapter 105 (Bonus Chapter for 25,000 words of nutrient solution)...
He Yan has worn quite a few gorgeous outfits.
She's not a newly famous star; she's been working in the entertainment industry for twelve years, and has been famous for seven or eight. Once someone becomes famous, all sorts of resources are poured in for them, including fashion resources, of course.
She has worn gowns from many top domestic and international brands, including haute couture luxury brands, utilizing various expensive materials and avant-garde designs. The costume designers for the TV dramas and films she has collaborated on in recent years, whether period dramas or modern series, have all been top-tier in the industry, which has given He Yan very high standards when choosing her wedding dress.
But now she stood frozen in front of the shop window, almost mesmerized by the clothes displayed inside.
Its beauty is so concrete—every stitch of gold thread, every strand of thin gauze—yet it is also so abstract—as if the elegance of the Tang Dynasty, an era of openness, confidence, and pursuit of perfection, is condensed into this light gauze.
"What kind of shop is this?" After a long while, He Yan finally looked up and saw the signboard that read "Qinghe Textile Factory".
Xiao Yang didn't know either, but as an assistant, she was competent and had already taken out her phone to search for relevant information: "It's a textile workshop in Qinghe Ancient Town, and they say the manager there is very impressive..."
He Yan frowned: "Tsk, you're talking like you're insulting someone."
Xiao Yang couldn't help but chuckle: "The manager inside is really awesome, and the staff are all incredibly skilled..." She paused for a moment, "Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"
He Yan continued looking at the ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) in the shop window, then shook her head: "I think it might be real."
In the Jiangnan region, embroidery is highly valued, with Suzhou embroidery being world-renowned, and Nanjing's Yunjin brocade also enjoying a high reputation. However, after traveling to both cities, including the studios of some masters, she had not seen any craftsmanship that could amaze her like this—from one angle, it was a magnificent pattern outlined in gold thread; from another angle, only the pomegranate red background and the gold thread blended together, presenting a deep and warm halo; and when the light shone directly on it, the single silk gauze almost disappeared, leaving only the shimmering golden flowers and birds floating in the air, ethereal and otherworldly.
Such elaborate and exquisite embroidery is unprecedented in the haute couture gowns she has worn, both domestically and internationally.
He Yan became somewhat interested.
She took a picture and sent it to the magazine editor: "Look at this dress! I want to wear it!"
The magazine has its own fashion editor for the photoshoot, but what can you do when He Yan and the editor-in-chief are such good friends? Besides, she also knows that their theme for this issue is to create a cultural revival trend.
The editor-in-chief still hadn't replied, and Qinghe Textile Factory remained closed. He Yan was about to look around the shop window again when she received a call from Director Tang:
"You're in the old town? Why don't you come and try out the lighting? We're in Zone 3."
He Yan immediately agreed: "Okay, I'll be right there."
Big-name actors all have dedicated lighting doubles, but He Yan doesn't like that. She's very serious about her work; except for special effects scenes where she uses a double, she does everything herself.
He Yan hurriedly left with Xiao Yang and went to District 3. At the entrance of the alley, she just happened to brush past Li Niang.
"Are there tourists this early?" Li Niang turned around curiously and saw her back, but didn't pay much attention.
She opened the workshop door; it was her turn to work the early shift today, which basically meant arriving an hour early to clean. Wang Xiuniang and Lü Qiao were also on the early shift with her. Both Wang Xiuniang and Lü Qiao were from Tang Dynasty China, just working different shifts.
Wang Xiuniang came from the mid-Tang Dynasty and died of illness. Lü Qiao, on the other hand, was from the late Tang Dynasty. She was originally a court embroiderer who fled the palace due to war and encountered soldiers and bandits before being rescued by the system and brought here.
Wang Xiuniang was skilled in gold-embroidered embroidery, while Lü Qiao excelled in beaded embroidery. The nobles of the time loved luxury, embroidering gold and silver threads and various gemstones and beads onto their clothing, creating an extremely ornate look.
There was also a woman named Zhou in the textile workshop, who was skilled in Song embroidery and followed a different, extremely elegant style.
Li Niang and the other two young women were only apprentices—although they were skilled in needlework due to their upbringing in ancient times, they were still at a primary school level compared to the embroiderers. Han Yunshang thought for a moment and then suggested that they become apprentices in the workshop, a mutual selection process.
Li Niang's current mentor is Wang Xiuniang.
Liniang moved a stepladder and used a rag to wipe the "Qinghe Textile Factory" signboard at the entrance.
The signboard was recently changed. Before, it was just a simple and straightforward "Textile Workshop". After discussing it with Granny Huang, Han Shanggong changed the signboard to "Qinghe Weaving Bureau", which can be considered a new beginning.
After the signboard was cleaned, the other people on the early shift arrived, and everyone divided the work.
Li Niang then took a rag and went into the shop window, carefully wiping every part. She used a soft feather duster to gently remove the dust from the displayed ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), straightened the drooping hem, and revealed its most perfect posture.
As she bent over to stand up, she saw the light shining on the hem of her skirt, and even she, who had witnessed its creation, couldn't help but pause for a moment to catch her breath.
"It's so beautiful, Master!"
This dress was made by her master, Wang Xiuniang. The floral and bird patterns on the hem were all embroidered by Wang Xiuniang stitch by stitch. Originally, the dress was not supposed to be completed until June, but thanks to Huang Daopo's blessing of "clothing the world," Wang Xiuniang finished it last month.
Han Shanggong liked it very much and immediately put it in the shop window, which perfectly matched the peach blossoms and willows of spring, making it quite poetic.
“This is called a flower cage skirt,” Wang Xiuniang said with a smile, tucking the gauze on the skirt hem out a bit. “Princess Anle once had us make a single-silk green gauze cage skirt, which amazed everyone. Later, this kind of embroidered cage skirt became popular, and noble ladies vied to imitate it. Later, there was another type, which had gold and silver thread embroidery piled up at the waist, which was called the ‘golden-thread waist’ by those dissolute scholars.”
“Princess Anle, in today’s terms, was a fashion trendsetter, and she also started the trend of the Hundred Birds Skirt.” She smiled and sighed, “But it was indeed extremely cruel. Fortunately, many bird feathers are now being sold, and Han Shanggong is planning to make one.”
Li Niang loved listening to her tell these kinds of stories.
On the one hand, she envied the gorgeous and exquisite clothes, and on the other hand, she felt indignant: "Those noble ladies have it easy, spending hundreds of gold coins on a dress, while we can only starve to death outside... It's true that the rich feast while the poor starve to death on the road!"
“Isn’t it the same in every dynasty?” Wang Xiuniang said calmly, having seen through the ways of the world, her hands never stopping their work. “It’s just that things are much better now. However, if these dresses were to be sold, ordinary families still couldn’t afford them.”
It would take her two whole months to make such a dress, even with the buffs.
Li Niang rested her chin on her hand, still gazing at the floral dress with rapt attention: "Well, I guess I should grit my teeth and rent it once to wear."
Wang Xiuniang chuckled, "That's true." Her expression changed, and she shooed Li Niang back, "Alright, alright, how's the embroidery I asked you to do? I'm going to check it today!"
Liniang immediately ran back: "Almost done! Almost done!"
Meanwhile, He Yan had already finished testing the lighting at the temporary photography location set up in Zone 3, and only saw the message sent to her by the magazine's editor-in-chief during her break.
Where did you see that dress?! I need all the details about it within one minute!!!
He Yan smiled when she saw the row of exclamation marks in the message from her editor-in-chief. She knew he would like it. She could almost picture him getting excited and unable to sit still on the other side of the screen.
Her fingers flew across the screen, typing a whole bunch of words in a flurry:
[A weaving workshop in Qinghe Ancient Town. Surprised? Unexpected, right? Didn't you tell me you'd always wanted to do a truly substantial, impressive traditional Chinese style feature? I think you really should check this out, it's amazing!]
She sent over more detailed photos that she had taken herself.
A minute later, the editor-in-chief called directly, his voice filled with undisguised excitement and eagerness: "He Yan! I fucking love you! I zoomed in on the photo of that dress, and the craftsmanship is amazing! The gold thread embroidery, the sheer silk... it's just as good as those haute couture gowns from abroad."
He Yan went to a quiet corner to answer the phone: "Let me tell you, what you see with your own eyes is even better than the photos. I just inquired and found out that this workshop is officially owned by the ancient town. It's said to be full of hidden talents, including inheritors of kesi (silk tapestry) and masters of restoring Song brocade and Tang dynasty gold-embroidered patterns. The floral-patterned skirt in the shop window is one of their restorations based on historical records and techniques, and it's purely handmade. They are currently focusing on academic research on the restoration of ancient clothing. I wonder if the clothes can be borrowed."
However, Qinghe Ancient Town is, after all, a commercial entity, and she felt that a collaboration could be discussed.
"Academic restoration? Purely handmade?" Upon hearing these impressive terms, the editor-in-chief's voice rose several octaves. "That's great! That's exactly what I'm looking for—something with a solid foundation and top-notch craftsmanship."
The ancient town setting, the intangible cultural heritage workshops, and the top-notch restoration craftsmanship... this alone is enough to create an excellent feature film or program. Moreover, Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) is currently a hot trend among young people, while some unremarkable luxury brands are less popular.
He made a quick decision: "I'll fly over to find you today."
He Yan was startled. Was it in such a hurry?
The editor-in-chief sneered: "Going and returning on the same day, this is the treatment for top-tier trainees."
This issue featuring He Yan is their anniversary issue, so it has to be taken very seriously.
He Yan laughed heartily. When the editor-in-chief spent half a day flying from the capital to the provincial capital and then taking the high-speed rail to Qinghe City, he discovered that Qinghe Ancient Town required reservations and that he couldn't get in or buy tickets since he had come on short notice, she laughed even louder.
Of course, a longtime friend wouldn't let him come for nothing. He Yan asked Producer Wang for a crew member badge, then spoke with the staff in the ancient town, and finally got him in.
"Is business really that good?" Editor-in-Chief Liu Yu was somewhat dazed.
"I heard that reservations are fully booked every day, so we have to control the flow of people." He Yan, fully armed with a hat and sunglasses, led him towards Zone 5.
Fortunately, they can take a boat to avoid the crowds.
Just as she expected, Liu Yu also stared at the large shop window for a long time, and she even saw a hint of tears in the corner of his eyes.
He Yan: ......
She thoughtfully pretended not to see it.
Liu Yu has loved clothing since childhood and later made a living from it; it's fair to say that clothing is half of his life. It's understandable that he would be moved upon seeing such beautiful, timeless garments.
Liu Yu chuckled and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. They had been friends for years, so there was no need for explanations.
He Yan asked, "How is it?"
Liu Yu clenched his fist and said solemnly, "I must borrow it!"
This is the theme!
Back when he was just a fashion editor, he went on a business trip to Paris and visited the haute couture workshop of a high-end luxury brand. That brand was known for preserving traditional craftsmanship and had acquired many workshops around the world, including embroidery workshops, feather workshops, button workshops, hat-making workshops, gold and silver jewelry workshops, and so on. It was an eye-opening experience for him.
Even though the media proclaims the death of haute couture every year, these workshops still have an endless stream of orders.
At that time, Liu Yu was thinking, China has various skills that have been passed down for many years, and each one can be called top-notch and ultimate, but why can't they be promoted and recognized by more people?
Even domestically, it is not recognized.
Fortunately, the trends of the past few years have given Liu Yu some hope, and he is more willing to do some related cultural promotion within his capabilities.
The two pushed open the door and walked into the workshop. Soon, a staff member came to ask if they had made an appointment.
Liu Yu: "...No."
He glanced at He Yan, who shrugged innocently; she hadn't known an appointment was required. This time, Liu Yu revealed his identity as the magazine's editor-in-chief and politely inquired if he could meet with the workshop owner to discuss a collaboration.
Liu Yu's magazine is quite well-known. The staff took the business card and left in a hurry, while the two sat in the waiting area to wait.
The waiting area offered a perfect view of the weavers at work, their heads bowed in a pose as beautiful as a painting, making the wait less tedious. Looking at the piles of fabric beside the weavers, Liu Yu had an unbelievable thought: Could this weaving workshop be starting with restoring the fabric itself?
Just then, he suddenly heard He Yan ask, her tone hesitant, "Do you think I should have my wedding dress custom-made at this workshop?"
Liu Yu suddenly turned his head: "Do you want to do a Chinese style?"
"I've already chosen my wedding dress for the main ceremony; it's sponsored by a brand I represent." He Yan hasn't talked to her friends about the details of her wedding preparations yet. "However, the dress for going out will definitely be more Chinese-style; that was decided beforehand."
It's currently trendy for brides to wear traditional Chinese wedding gowns when they go out. Actually, if it weren't for the fact that her main wedding dress was sponsored—aside from a business collaboration—she really wanted to have a Chinese-style wedding. No celebrity has ever had a purely Chinese-style wedding yet, so it would definitely be a big hit and go viral.
“Absolutely!” Liu Yu’s eyes lit up. “The current dresses all look pretty much the same, with no style to speak of. If you can customize one, it will definitely be unique.”
He became more and more excited as he spoke: "Those international big brands have great designs, but they always seem to lack a soul. If we use the finest craftsmanship passed down from our ancestors to tailor-make a wedding dress for you that truly embodies Eastern heritage and can be passed down through generations, the significance of that is no less than any haute couture piece! Who knows, you might even become a trendsetter once again!"
Liu Yu's words dispelled He Yan's hesitation. She looked at the ancient lintel of the workshop not far away, and recalled the shimmering floral dress she had seen in the shop window that morning, as well as the focused and serene figure of the weaver in front of the loom.
Make yourself a unique dress using kesi (silk tapestry) and the most intricate gold thread embroidery.
It can also become a leader in promoting traditional Chinese culture...
Once this thought arises, it can never be extinguished.
“…You’re right.” He Yan’s voice trembled slightly, a mixture of excitement and certainty at having found her direction. “I’ll go ask them if they accept custom orders.”
If they don't answer, she'll keep pestering them until they do!
"A custom-made dress?" Han Yunshang put down her teacup in surprise.
People often ask them if their clothes are for sale and how much they cost, but very few people inquire so earnestly whether they can be custom-made. She guesses it's because their clothes look expensive, so ordinary people simply don't bother asking.
She looked gently at the beautiful female celebrity in front of her.
The two spoke almost simultaneously.
Liu Yu: "Our magazine wants to rent clothes from your workshop for a photoshoot, and the location will most likely be in Qinghe Ancient Town."
He Yan: "I want to have a custom-made dress for my wedding."
She glared at Liu Yu: "Tell me about my business first."
Liu Yu immediately made a "you go first" gesture. He understood He Yan's urgency.
He Yan shared her wedding preparations, mentioning that she wanted a dress to wear on her wedding day.
Han Yunshang nodded slightly, indicating her understanding. While exploring traditional high-end fabrics and craftsmanship, they discovered that wedding attire represented a large market, and thus also learned about current wedding customs—most were a blend of Chinese and Western styles, or entirely Western. The main ceremony used a wedding dress, but many brides now opted for Chinese attire for the outing, often featuring Qing Dynasty-style gowns.
In short, clothing from other dynasties was often used only for taking portraits.
Han Yunshang was quite dissatisfied.
Therefore, she didn't think about it for long before realizing that this was a great opportunity.
She set down her cup and turned to He Yan, her tone calm yet professional: "It's our honor to have your wedding dress custom-made at our workshop. What specific style would you like? Would you prefer a complete recreation of a particular period's design, or...?"
He Yan was initially pleased, but after hearing her question, she frowned slightly and voiced her concerns: "Won't a completely restored costume look too much like the costumes in period dramas?"
What she needs is a dress that, while possessing traditional charm and craftsmanship, also reflects her own style and is suitable for a modern wedding occasion. She doesn't want a wedding that completely replicates ancient rituals.
Han Yunshang smiled after hearing her request, her eyes revealing understanding and confidence: "Please rest assured. The Hanfu system is profound and extensive. Its form, patterns, colors, and craftsmanship inherently contain extremely high aesthetic value and design potential. Contrary to what the general public may think, there are actually many styles and forms of traditional clothing that can be worn casually in everyday life, and they are not all wide-sleeved, flowing dresses."
"Moreover, we can make appropriate improvements to the details while respecting the core of traditional craftsmanship to meet your requirements."
Restoration and improvement are not contradictory; they can be pursued along two separate lines.
Han Yunshang stood up, her posture elegant and composed: "Instead of empty talk, why don't you two come with me to see some of the workshop's works? Perhaps they can give you some inspiration."
He Yan and Liu Yu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with anticipation, and immediately got up to follow.
Han Yunshang led them through the work area. The busy weavers and embroiderers paid little attention to the visitors, focusing on the silk threads in their hands. On the contrary, He Yan and Liu Yu were very curious about their work. Liu Yu had even started to imagine how the blockbuster film would be shot.
Finally, they arrived at a quiet, well-lit showroom. The moment they pushed open the door, even He Yan and Liu Yu, who were used to grand occasions, couldn't help but hold their breath.
This place feels like a miniature museum of Chinese costume art.
Han Yunshang smiled and said, "These are all the results of our year's work, they're all here."
Inside the showroom, there are twelve striped skirts in different shades of blue, yellow, and crimson silk, cut into vertical stripes and pieced together to create a smooth and rhythmic color transition. Even when they are just hanging there quietly, they seem to contain a dancing rhythm.
There is an elegant Song Dynasty-style jacket, with a moon-white silk base, embroidered with exquisitely detailed plum blossom branches by Lady Zhou. The needlework is delicate and restrained, and under the light, it gleams with the unique luster of silk. The flowers are delicate and elegant, and the color scheme is refined, like a tranquil and far-reaching landscape painting.
The dress is paired with a pleated skirt, with fine vertical pleats that flow like water, showing skill in its simplicity.
Liu Yu had already figured out what to pair it with.
Purely traditional costumes are boring; perhaps mixing and matching with the latest fashion week styles would be a good idea.
Turning my head, I saw another striking red brocade skirt with a python pattern, its imposing presence captivating. The thick brocade fabric was adorned with a python pattern woven in gold thread, its scales and claws seemingly flying, shimmering under the light and exuding an air of dignified majesty. Paired with it was a stand-up collar jacket, the collar and cuffs embellished with beaded embroidery, a specialty of Lü Qiao. The fine pearls and gemstones, set against the red background and gold patterns, shimmered with a subtle yet luxurious luster.
"The craftsmanship..." Liu Yu almost cried again, "It's so beautiful."
The beauty brought by the top-notch craftsmanship is simply breathtaking when viewed up close!
He has visited many top designers' studios, but he can still feel this shock at this moment, which shows how excellent they are.
One piece after another, in his eyes, were works of art that embodied countless efforts, carried fragments of history, and told stories of unique aesthetics. Liu Yu was completely absorbed in them, examining each piece carefully like a pilgrim. Several times his fingers wanted to touch the exquisite embroidery or gold weaving, but he was afraid of disturbing the beauty, so he could only leave them hanging in mid-air.
Han Yunshang couldn't help but nod secretly.
This Mr. Liu is a true connoisseur of clothing. He believes that it's best to avoid touching silk fabrics like this, especially when your fingers are sweaty.
Liu Yu turned to her excitedly and said, "Teacher Han, this is true Eastern haute couture! It's our own luxury!"
He's definitely going to do this special feature!
At this moment, he noticed that He Yan had completely quieted down. He turned his head and found that she was staring blankly at a bird-patterned dress draped halfway over a mannequin in the corner.
Liu Yu looked over and immediately hissed.
He didn't want to appear like a country bumpkin, but he couldn't resist—although it wasn't finished yet, its strange luster was already beginning to show. From different angles and under different lighting, the skirt, woven from twisted feathers, displayed ever-changing colors and subtle bird patterns, as if clouds and clear water had been crushed and woven into it, creating a dreamlike beauty.
Heryan's gaze lingered on it for a long time, deeply attracted by its strange and ever-changing luster.
She turned around eagerly: "Can this technique be used? I want this technique!"
If she could incorporate this exquisite beauty of light and shadow into a dress tailor-made for her... she couldn't imagine how cheerful and smiling she would become.
Han Yunshang smiled and introduced the dress to the two of them: "This is peacock feather brocade. In the Ming Dynasty, this technique was only used to make grand ceremonial robes for the emperor and empress. It has no other drawbacks, except that it takes a lot of time and is a bit expensive."
She was trying to recreate Princess Anle's Hundred Birds Dress using this technique. To show the lightness of the birds, she specially added white peacock feathers and other light-colored feathers. It's so beautiful and ethereal, no wonder He Yan likes it.
He Yan's eyes sparkled: "Manager Han, as long as I like the style and there's enough time, price is not a problem."
Her wardrobe also contains million-dollar haute couture pieces.
After showing the two of them around the showroom, it was time to get down to business.
Han Yunshang had someone record He Yan's needs and body information, and together they selected several styles, but the details needed further modification. They agreed that a first draft of the design would be provided in ten days. If she was satisfied, they would continue; otherwise, He Yan would need to pay a design fee.
However, she needs to discuss the specific price with the ancient town.
He Yan said no problem.
"It's just the construction schedule..." she frowned, "My wedding is in October, will it be in time?"
Han Yunshang calculated that time was a bit tight, but it wasn't hopeless. She hardened her heart but kept her expression normal: "Don't worry, there's still time."
Liu Yu cleared his throat: "Now, shall we talk about my affairs?"
Han Yunshang smiled: "Please go ahead."
Liu Yu's request was actually quite simple: he wanted to borrow the clothes for a photoshoot, and he wanted the photoshoot to take place in the textile workshop. Han Yunshang could decide these things herself. She had seen Liu Yu's business card; the magazine he worked for was indeed very famous, and their workshop had bought quite a few copies, so she readily agreed.
This is a great opportunity for publicity.
After leaving the textile workshop, He Yan smiled broadly: "Director Tang was right. Things will work themselves out. If you have a good attitude, good luck will come naturally."
Liu Yu nodded: "I have to thank Director Tang for finding this place to film."
Otherwise, how would he know that there was such a hidden gem textile workshop in a scenic area?
Unbeknownst to them, the textile workshop was in an uproar after the two left.
Han Yushang immediately surrounded her sister, extremely happy: "Did we close a big deal?"
While she was embroidering, she kept secretly peeking her ear this way.
Everyone else looked at Han Yunshang, their expressions a mixture of joy and nervousness. The textile workshop had employed so many people and spent so much money, but it felt like it was always just spending money and not making any profit. These women had long wanted to change things.
They were all very happy when they heard that they were here to order clothes.
“It is indeed a big order,” Han Yunshang smiled. “Provided that we can satisfy Miss He.”
Han Yushang forced a smile, her expression somewhat crestfallen: "Sister... can you draw design drafts?"
Han Yunshang: "No."
Han Yushang: "...Then what should we do?"
Han Yunshang tilted her head and gave a slight smile: "But I think you can give it a try."
Han Yushang was dumbfounded: "Huh?"
Han Yunshang reminded her, "Have you forgotten that you can paint in the meticulous style?"
Her younger sister was quite skilled in traditional Chinese painting. Back when she was in the Bureau of Clothing and Costumes, besides the formal dresses that had to be made according to ancestral rules, the concubines often changed their everyday clothes frequently. Sometimes the concubines came up with their own ideas, and sometimes she and several other palace ladies-in-waiting came up with them.
These ideas all had to be written down for the ladies to see. In order to stand out and win the position of Shangfu, Han Yushang made a special effort to learn fine brush painting from the palace painters, and eventually got her wish.
Han Yushang patted her forehead: "Use fine brushwork? Sure, sure!"
This is their workshop's first big order, she'll definitely do her best!
Liu Yu stayed in Qinghe Ancient Town and met with Lu Xiaoqi through Producer Wang's connections, hoping to finalize the filming arrangements there.
Lu Xiaoqi felt that she might have recently stirred up trouble in the entertainment and fashion circles, wondering why they all seemed to have conspired to come here. Was Qinghe Ancient Town finally about to enter the world of high-end sophistication?
Of course I agree!
Anyway, we can just charge according to the commercial photography rate. As for the clothing rental, she and Han Yunshang had a phone call, and they both felt that this was an excellent opportunity for publicity, so they didn't charge any rental fees.
There's also Heyenne's custom-made...
Lu Xiaoqi planned to ask someone about the price, but after searching through her circle of friends, she couldn't find many wealthy people who usually spent money like water.
Tsk tsk, that's all her social circle is like. Even after making money, she's still not high-class.
In a flash, she suddenly thought of someone.
So, Qin Shaohua, who was on tour at the time, received a call from Lu Xiaoqi: "...The price for a custom order within the industry?"
Lu Xiaoqi asked humbly, "Do you know? You're the only person I have connections with."
Qin Shaohua laughed heartily: "Mr. Lu is joking."
However, she actually knew!
"Celebrities usually borrow from brands they have good relationships with for all sorts of banquets, so it doesn't cost them much. But I know a few designers whose custom designs cost this much..." Qin Shaohua quoted a figure.
Lu Xiaoqi's pupils dilated in shock: "So many?!"
How is this any different from robbery?
As a country bumpkin who would never spend more than two thousand yuan on clothes these days, she has no sense of having become a rich person.
"It has a lot to do with the craftsmanship and the fabric," Qin Shaohua said. "But I can only give you a reference. So, Mr. Lu, you want to order a formal dress? Do you need me to recommend a designer?"
"No, no, I just wanted to ask. Thank you, Sister Qin."
The two chatted briefly, and then Lu Xiaoqi remembered someone else.
So, Professor Yi, who had just returned to Nanjing, also received her call.
Professor Yi raised her eyebrows upon hearing this. It was both kesi (silk tapestry) and haori (feathered brocade)... She quoted a price: "Xiao Lu, don't sell it for less than this price. Every inch of kesi is worth its weight in gold, let alone this kesi haori! However, your price also depends on the craftsmanship. If it's just an embellishment, it will definitely be different from using kesi all over. I'm just giving you a reference."
The brocade produced by Jinling Brocade Research Institute, for example, is extremely expensive.
"In short, you absolutely must not sell them cheaply," Professor Yi solemnly reminded her. "These items are worth the price. Look at Nishijin weaving in Japan. It takes tradition as its starting point, preserves it very well, and combines it with the kimono industry. Even if the price is high, there is no shortage of people willing to pay."
"On the contrary, if you lower the price, people may have doubts. It should be a luxury item."
"Okay, thank you, Professor Yi."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Xiaoqi felt somewhat dazed.
She finally understood why everyone said that the rich's money was the easiest to earn! These top-quality handicrafts had a large enough premium, and were unique and had cultural value, so the rich were very willing to pay for them.
Lu Xiaoqi felt that she needed to think carefully about how to proceed with the creation of a cultural brand for Qinghe Ancient Town.
The cultural and creative products in Qinghe Ancient Town are currently only small-scale operations, but they are selling well. However, due to insufficient preparation time and the team's lack of experience, they are not significantly different from the cultural and creative product shops in other scenic areas.
One-third of the items were designed by the design team themselves, while two-thirds were created in collaboration with factories that have design capabilities. These are common small items, such as refrigerator magnets, bookmarks, notebooks, pens, etc., simply labeled as Qinghe Ancient Town.
Although the workshops also produced some items for sale, manpower issues prevented them from increasing production volume, leading to frequent stockouts.
In her opinion, cultural and creative stores are somewhat of a double-edged sword these days.
Perhaps it should be changed.
The textile workshop incident reminded Lu Xiaoqi that if you want to sell these handicrafts, you have to sell them at a high price. If you create a brand and operate it well, the potential is limitless!
The set was quickly set up, the actors were all in place, and filming officially began.
News of their filming in Qinghe Ancient Town leaked out at some point, attracting many fans. However, the filming location was mainly in Zone 3, and filming in other areas took place either in the early morning or at night, making it impossible for fans to get close.
They could only squat outside Zhao Simin's hotel, forcing Uncle Zhao to hire two more strong security guards.
Besides filming, He Yan spends all her free time at the Qinghe Textile Factory.
These past few days, she has looked at some finished fabrics in the workshop, including those woven by themselves and those purchased from outside, such as Song brocade and Yun brocade. She has also looked at some patterns and embroidery samples that everyone has drawn for their records. More and more ideas are popping into her head.
"I'm sorry," He Yan said, a little embarrassed. "Was it annoying for me to keep making changes?"
Han Yunshang maintained her calm and smiling expression, and comforted her, "A wedding is a major life event, and it's only natural for Miss He to treat it with caution."
She was indeed very calm. This was nothing! The noble ladies in the palace used to be much more difficult to serve!
He Yan was touched by her emotions and suddenly hugged her: "Thank you."
She liked Han Yunshang very much. She had seen the video of her standing up for Han Yunshang before, and now she was comforted by Han Yunshang's consistently stable emotions. The scales in He Yan's heart had unknowingly tipped a little more.
Ten days later, Qinghe Textile Bureau handed over their final design drafts.
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