Chapter 122 Soaring to the Sky
Compared to previous fan wars, this issue is obviously much more serious and has crossed the boundaries between the fashion industry and fan circles, with people from many other circles also starting to seriously discuss this topic.
Many KOLs who are considered insightful by fans and the general public, and even some scholars from other fields, have also joined the fray.
Those who received high praise generally believed that China's poverty and weakness in modern times led to a long process of "self-degradation" in its cultural psychology, much like how people in the Republic of China era chose to wear Western-style clothing as a symbol of their status. For the past one or two hundred years, the West has controlled the discourse and pricing power of fashion, and its standards have become the sole benchmark of sophistication.
In the price structure of luxury goods, the cost of raw materials and craftsmanship accounts for a very small proportion; the majority is the brand premium. This premium is based on cultural power—that is, who has the right to define what is beautiful, what is high-end, and what is worthwhile. Over the past century, the West has firmly grasped this power through economic dominance, media dissemination, and its colonial history.
But now, it's time to fight for this power.
Our Hanfu, or rather "Huafu" system—the exquisite craftsmanship under the imperial court dress system of past dynasties—has been interrupted and forgotten in the process of modernization, becoming specimens in museums rather than living, consumable luxuries. It's not that our things are bad, but that we have lost the ability and confidence to tell their value convincingly. The efforts of *Fashion* magazine and the Qinghe Textile Bureau are precisely attempting to rebuild this narrative. The road is long, but worthwhile.
This post received many likes and shares.
Another relatively well-known domestic designer commented with great feeling, saying that it's not that China can't produce good products, but rather that the market doesn't recognize them. People have a deep-seated belief that only Western luxury brands are high-end. She thanked *Fashion* magazine for this attempt, and also stated that Qinghe Textile's production was truly outstanding, outstanding enough to dispel people's prejudices. She hoped this was a good start.
These insightful comments and replies were also screenshotted by marketing accounts and made into short videos, which began to spread across various platforms.
People's focus has shifted from the surface to deeper considerations.
[Well said! Why do we always think that the grass is greener on the other side? Embroidery with gold leaf and filigree—aren't these top-tier luxury items? Why should our own fine things be belittled as cheap goods?]
In the past, only emperors could wear that!
Those who previously mocked "Hanfu in tourist areas," are you feeling ashamed now? It's not that the items are bad, it's that many of us wore tinted glasses, automatically downgrading domestically produced and traditional items! E-brand haute couture is beautiful, but this gold-embroidered cloak from Qinghe Weaving is inferior in terms of craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and uniqueness. It's even more precious! Liu Yu's pairing it with E-brand haute couture precisely demonstrates that in his eyes, the two are equal, and the latter even needs to be highlighted!
[Actually, I also need to reflect on myself. When I first heard it was about Hanfu, although I didn't say anything, my heart skipped a beat. Now that I think about it, isn't that a kind of ideological imprint?]
[I agree with the comment above. And I sadly believe this kind of ideological indoctrination will continue to exist for many more years. But isn't our civilization one of the most glorious in history?]
Living abroad, I feel this even more deeply. When I wear luxury brands with big logos overseas, many people look at me and think, "Wow, you're really rich." But when I wear Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) in the street, although many people find it strange, many others express amazement and respect. The cultural pride and sense of identity that the latter brings is incomparable to the former. True sophistication is about representing who you are and where you come from.
We don't lack luxury goods; we have too many truly luxurious products that are overlooked, but we lack luxury brands. Only when the latter are established can we seize the right to speak and gain recognition. Thanks to *Fashion* magazine and Heyan for allowing more people to see the high-end style that belongs to China. Support Qinghe Textiles and Qinghe Gold Shop; I hope you can truly become luxury brands belonging to China and stand on the world stage.
Lu Xiaoqi read through all the comments and couldn't help but send Liu Yu a WeChat message:
【Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!】
Just as he said, he reversed the previous disadvantage in public opinion with just two pictures, showing his foresight.
Liu Yu replied to her: "It's not that I'm superior, it's just that your products are truly excellent. Let's cooperate again next time, President Lu."
Lu Xiaoqi: [Absolutely, Qinghe Ancient Town welcomes you anytime.]
This wave of benefits isn't limited to Liu Yu's magazine, "Fashion." Qinghe Ancient Town has arguably benefited the most. From a "Hanfu Museum in a Scenic Area" to a national treasure-level haute couture workshop, this transformation has left many people speechless.
The video of Han Shanggong and some videos of the workshop taken by tourists have also been dug up.
Those who originally spoke up for Qinghe Ancient Town can finally hold their heads high this time.
[I told you guys long ago, there aren't any cheap Hanfu shops in Qinghe Ancient Town! Qinghe Weaving Workshop is a legitimate textile workshop that restores Hanfu, the kind that inherits intangible cultural heritage techniques. Did you really not believe me? You got proven wrong, didn't you?]
[Who was it before who kept saying they'd rent clothes for 9.9 yuan? Look at that now! That gold embroidery, that filigree work, 9.9 yuan? Could you even buy that for 99,000 yuan?]
[I've been to a textile workshop, and the craftsmanship of the master craftsmen there left me speechless. I told my friends it was a treasure trove, and they laughed at me for bragging... Now that Fashion Magazine and Heytea have both confirmed it, who's the real clown?]
Therefore, don't just follow the crowd and make judgments without knowing the full picture. Qinghe Ancient Town is famous for its cultural depth and intangible cultural heritage experiences, not just some ordinary trendy tourist spot.
A few days later, Liu Yu and "Fashion" finally released the cover and a series of photos that had been shown to He Yan.
The September issue of "Fashion" magazine, which also marks its 30th anniversary, has finally been officially launched.
Compared to the previously released, highly impactful teaser images, this one is indeed more restrained and balanced, yet it contains a deeper level of ingenuity.
He Yan wore an ivory-white, structured evening gown from a foreign avant-garde designer brand, with exaggerated shoulder design and flowing skirt lines exuding a modernist sculptural feel. In addition to this futuristic outfit, she lightly draped a Ming-style cross-collar, right-fastening kesi (silk tapestry) blouse over her shoulders.
This short-sleeved shirt is exquisitely crafted, but its essence lies in its craftsmanship—Han Yunshang uses kesi (silk tapestry) to weave it. Instead of traditional patterns, it features a design of pine trees, cypress trees, clouds, and cranes, with well-balanced composition and a color palette dominated by moon white, pine green, and cloud gray, resulting in an extremely elegant and sophisticated look. The unique "carved imagery" and translucent texture of kesi allow the vigorous strength of the pine trees and the graceful movement of the cranes to subtly appear and disappear between the warp and weft threads.
It is this understated elegance that perfectly balances the sharpness and extravagance of avant-garde formal wear.
Modernity and classicism, Western structure and Eastern charm, do not collide violently, but coexist harmoniously in a light and effortless way, presenting an overall sense of timeless, calm and powerful strength.
This cover seems to be a silent declaration: sophistication doesn't need to be ostentatious; cultural confidence can also be calm and elegant.
Shortly after the photo was posted, the international brand of the evening gown Hera wore claimed it, and the designer herself reposted it, even adding the caption, "Absolutely gorgeous!", clearly indicating that she really liked it.
Netizens also appreciated it, and the comment section was very active.
It's rare to see such activity in the comment sections of official fashion magazine accounts; usually, it's just fans having a blast. But thanks to the buzz surrounding this event, many casual observers have also joined in.
Wow, what an unexpected combination, but it actually looks pretty good.
Many Hanfu styles can actually be mixed and matched for everyday wear; you don't necessarily have to dress like an ancient person from head to toe.
[It looks great! How much does it cost?]
[Replying to the comment above, it's probably not cheap, starting at least in the six figures. This is kesi (silk tapestry)! Kesi is so expensive, an inch of it is worth an inch of gold!]
Turning to the inside pages, Liu Yu wrote some words about the 30th anniversary celebration at the beginning of the issue. He believes that in the early stages, "Fashion" brought history to China, which was still a barren land at the time, and had completed its phase of mission. In the future, its mission is to cultivate and support fashion that belongs to China, so that Eastern aesthetics and craftsmanship can also bloom in the world.
This leads to a magnificent twelve-page feature article titled "Deep in the Latitude and Longitude, Time Weaves Gold: Exploring Qinghe Weaving and Qinghe Gold Shops".
Through the lens of the top photography team at Fashion Magazine, this feature goes far beyond ordinary product displays or interviews; it is more like a visual epic about time, craftsmanship, and heritage.
They captured moments of artisans at work in Qinghe weaving and gold shops. The photos are incredibly powerful, capturing the artisans' extreme focus, making one feel that what they are holding is no longer a craft, but an artwork infused with life and time.
Interspersed throughout are in-depth interviews with Han Yunshang, Master Jin, and others. Han Yunshang handled the situation well, adept at dealing with such situations. Master Jin's words were truly simple and honest, yet they revealed the purity of a craftsman.
At the same time, Qinghe Ancient Town also released a documentary previously filmed about the weaving workshops to coincide with the release of "Fashion" magazine. This gave everyone a clearer and more understandable view of what the two workshops do on a daily basis, and also explained what Tang Dynasty gold embroidery is, what kesi and yuzhi techniques, which are worthy of the emperor's robes, are, and what filigree is, etc.
These exquisite items have made many netizens realize that the Chinese ancestors had so many wonderful things.
I used to think luxury goods were just LV and Hermès, but now I realize that the things our ancestors enjoyed were the pinnacle of luxury. It's not the luxury of the logo, but the luxury of time and craftsmanship.
It's not that we lack good things; it's that too many of our good things have been forgotten and neglected. Thank you, *Fashion* magazine and Qinghe Ancient Town, for helping us rediscover our cultural heritage!
[Speaking of which, Qinghe Ancient Town is genuinely dedicated to preserving intangible cultural heritage, rather than just setting up one or two studios to scam government subsidies (laughing and crying emoji). I counted them all, from mortise and tenon joints to wood carvings, then to glazed tiles, and now to textile and gold and silver jewelry crafts—there are just so many!]
These are just the big ones; there are actually many impressive small workshops in Qinghe Ancient Town. Last time I visited a lantern workshop, the old lady there was amazing! My crab lantern isn't finished yet, I'll go again next time.
[I've already booked tickets to Qinghe Ancient Town and a workshop experience! Even just watching the masters work and soaking up the atmosphere would be great. I strongly suggest making more documentaries like this and showing them in schools so children can see that our country has such amazing craftsmanship!]
Don't forget, everyone, there's also Traditional Chinese Medicine!
Yes, yes, Guanmaitang is really amazing. It's just that the queue for buying sachets is a bit long, and several doctors can't seem to get an appointment.
[Just got back from a doctor's appointment in Qinghe Ancient Town. A new doctor at Guanmai Hall has arrived who specializes in bone setting; he's incredibly skilled.]
Where did the owner of Qinghe Ancient Town find these big shots?
[The owner of Qinghe Ancient Town is probably a big shot himself.]
Lu Xiaoqi, who is known as a "big shot" by netizens, ordered two thousand copies of "Fashion" magazine after its official launch and placed them in Qinghe Ancient Town for tourists to take and read as they please, and taking them away is also fine.
This issue of "Fashion" sold very well, with a significant increase compared to last year's September issue. Brand sponsors are very satisfied, including those who previously thought it was low-quality and planned to withdraw their advertising in October, but have now changed their minds.
Even the brand that He Yan endorses called Liu Yu, genuinely or jokingly complaining about why he chose that avant-garde designer brand for the cover outfit instead of theirs. Regardless of what Liu Yu was thinking, he naturally maintained a cheerful demeanor on the surface.
After exchanging compliments, the brand's marketing director chuckled on the other end of the phone: "You really did a great job this time, the response was unexpectedly good. It seems that the momentum of this 'Guofeng' and 'Guochao' trend is much stronger than we imagined."
Hearing this, Liu Yu knew she was finally getting to the point. He toned down his joking tone and became more serious: "To be honest, I personally think this is not just a passing trend, but a deep-seated return of cultural confidence and a shift in consumer aesthetics. Consumers, especially the younger generation, are starting to tire of monotonous logos and overly Westernized designs. They crave products that offer cultural identity, unique stories, and opportunities to express their individuality."
He seized the opportunity to offer advice: "As a top-tier brand, your company could definitely consider embracing this trend more deeply, rather than just focusing on superficial things like hiring Chinese brand ambassadors or releasing a few limited-edition zodiac bags... Collaborating with local Chinese artists and workshops on co-branded series would be a great approach, creating a deeper emotional connection with our consumers, which is far better than simply running advertisements..."
Regardless, these international brands still have a huge influence and influence in the world. If they can re-examine the Chinese market and respect China's cultural roots, it will be beneficial to the international promotion of Chinese style and culture, and they can act as a bridge.
For example, several Japanese artists and crafts have become internationally renowned thanks to the promotion of these brands.
Liu Yu hopes that traditional Chinese crafts such as kesi (silk tapestry) and embroidery can also go global. The international market is vast, and these crafts deserve recognition!
The brand's marketing director on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, clearly considering the feasibility of the proposal seriously.
After a moment, her voice returned to its previous cheerful tone: "Editor-in-Chief Liu certainly has a keen eye. This idea is very interesting, and I will discuss it seriously with the team. It seems that in the future, we will need to listen more to the opinions of you forward-thinking observers regarding our market plans."
......
"Boss, give me a copy of 'Fashion' magazine."
The fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl took out her phone, paid, and took the newly printed magazine, completely satisfied. She had visited several newsstands before finally buying it.
After she left, the boss placed the new magazines on the bookshelf.
Previously, these periodicals and magazines brought him a decent monthly income, but things are getting worse now. Magazines, or rather, physical books, are not selling well anymore. But this month, the new issue of "Fashion" is selling quite well, and it has already been restocked once.
"However, the cover is indeed quite nice," the shopkeeper muttered.
In a luxurious penthouse in a certain city, the young female homeowner is lounging on the sofa reading the newly arrived fashion magazine.
She happened to come across the feature article about He Yan's custom-made wedding dress. This feature was an exclusive one that Liu Yu had secured through his relationship with He Yan. It not only talked about He Yan's trip to Paris to have her wedding dress custom-made, but also revealed some behind-the-scenes stories about her custom-made gown at "Qinghe Textile".
Of course, no specific style was revealed, but even from some glimpses of the photos, readers can easily imagine the dresses and wedding gowns she has chosen.
The young woman quickly flipped to the previous section on Qinghe weaving, and seeing the exquisite garments and detailed descriptions of the craftsmanship, she was immediately intrigued.
She's getting married too!
Her wedding is scheduled for next spring. She has already chosen Vera Wang for her wedding dress, but she hasn't found a Chinese-style dress that she really likes. She has looked at many options, but she always feels that those on the market are either too tacky or lack soul.
She didn't want mass-produced, generic items; she wanted a unique wedding dress that embodied craftsmanship and a story.
“Qinghe Textile Factory…” she murmured to herself, her fingertips tracing the address of the workshop in the magazine. “So there are places like this in China.”
A longing welled up inside her; perhaps she could find what she wanted there.
She immediately picked up her iPad and searched for the official contact information for "Qinghe Textile". After thinking for a moment, she switched to the Qinghe Ancient Town APP, intending to fly over in person to show her sincerity.
Meanwhile, in a villa in another city, a young girl dressed in Hanfu ran upstairs with a magazine in her hand to find her mother.
"Mom! I'd like to order my 18th birthday jewelry here, is that okay?"
The middle-aged woman, wearing a jade bracelet, picked up a magazine and saw an introduction to "Qinghe Gold Shop" and close-ups of their jewelry. The details were exquisite, especially the filigree and gemstone-inlaid gold hairpin with pavilions and towers, which caught her eye.
The girl chattered on: "I really want a filigree bracelet with a more classic feel; it would look so beautiful with colored gemstones..."
She had previously discussed her ideas with other gold shops, wanting to customize something, but because her requirements were quite high, and she wanted the bracelet to be delicate with a fine, woven feel, the craftsmen all felt that the craftsmanship was too difficult to do. She thought that Qinghe Gold Shop could definitely do it!
"It looks pretty good." Her mother smiled. "Okay, you can choose your own gift for your eighteenth birthday."
"Thank you, Mom!" the girl exclaimed happily.
Such stories also happen in many cities.
In Qinghe Ancient Town.
Unlike its former tranquility, Section 5 is now noticeably more visited by people drawn by its reputation. Previously, the most famous workshops in Section 5 were woodworking workshops, but woodworking was not as popular as fashion among the general public. Therefore, after Qinghe weaving and Qinghe gold shops became popular, the number of tourists here has increased exponentially.
At the workshop's course management office, the course manager, holding an iPad, regretfully told visitors who came to inquire, "I'm sorry, all the experience courses at the weaving workshop are fully booked for today."
The tourist persisted: "What about tomorrow's?"
Course Manager: "...Sorry, the trial class at the weaving workshop is already booked for the next two weeks. How about I recommend some other courses?"
In the Qinghe Weaving Workshop, Li Niang, who was in charge of receiving visitors today, was also extremely busy, but her face was flushed with pride and the rosy glow of being busy:
"Please wait a moment, everyone. Space inside the workshop is limited, so in order not to disrupt the craftsmen's work, we need to allow visitors to enter in batches..."
The telephones in the workshop rang incessantly, almost without interruption.
Han Yunshang had to arrange for a young assistant to handle the calls specifically; the girl's voice had become hoarse from answering so many calls these past few days.
"Hello, this is Qinghe Textile Factory... Yes, you can inquire about haute couture gowns, but Manager Han and the tailors are already booked until the second half of next year... Yes, you need to submit an appointment request first, and we will conduct a preliminary review. We are very sorry, the volume of inquiries is currently too high..."
Besides those who come to order custom-made dresses, there are also brands that want to seek collaborations.
Han Yunshang escorted the guests to the workshop entrance, maintaining a polite smile and patiently responding to each one. Upon returning to the workshop, a trace of weariness was barely visible in her eyes. Accustomed to the tranquility before the loom, she truly needed time to adjust to such overwhelming attention and demands.
Looking at the endless stream of people outside the window, Han Yushang clicked her tongue in amazement: "The power of this 'Fashion' magazine is just too great."
Wang Xiuniang didn't even look up, her shuttle flying as she chuckled, "Good things will naturally be appreciated. It's good to be busy, so that the craft can be passed down."
Lvqiao: "Luckily, Miss Lu sent a few more people recently, otherwise even if we worked non-stop, we wouldn't have enough."
Han Yunshang returned just in time to hear her words, and smiled: "What's the rush? We're not in the palace anymore. We can choose what to do and what not to do."
If you feel tired, take on fewer jobs; don't push yourself too hard.
They exchanged smiles, only then realizing that their circumstances had completely changed.
At the end of October, Hera's highly anticipated wedding took place as scheduled. Just as everyone had predicted, every detail of the wedding became a hot topic on social media, from the venue setup to the guest lineup.
However, no one expected that the dress that ultimately won the wedding and stole the show in this fashion battle was not the expensive main wedding dress sponsored by a top international brand, but a traditional Chinese dress made by Qinghe Weaving.
When He Yan appeared in that elegant and dignified brocade phoenix and cloud pattern round-necked jacket and brocade dragon and cloud pattern shawl, she perfectly interpreted the sense of ceremony and nobility of Chinese wedding, making it magnificent and solemn.
At the wedding banquet, her peacock feather embroidered gown brought the atmosphere to a climax. Under the indoor lights, she seemed to be draped in the starlight of the Milky Way; with every turn and every step, the hem of her skirt rippled with a flowing, deep, and dazzling wave of light.
The combination of a strapless top and a swirling skirt was a refreshing change for everyone.
After all, many people's understanding of Hanfu is still limited to what they see in movies and TV dramas and photo studios. They never imagined that Hanfu could be worn in this way.
Netizens flooded the comments section under the wedding photos, declaring them the pinnacle of Chinese wedding attire. These photos were frequently mentioned in later reviews of celebrity weddings, becoming classics.
He Yan's wedding became the most powerful and irrefutable advertisement for Qinghe Textile, and once again opened up a deeper and wider market in the circle of wealthy people in China.
After the "Fashion" magazine article, the popularity of Qinghe Textile had finally subsided somewhat, but after the wedding, their phones were ringing off the hook again. Fortunately, this time everyone was prepared, and everything proceeded smoothly.
Accept what you can accept, and refuse what you can refuse.
By November, Qinghe Textile had received over twenty orders for custom-made clothing, as well as collaborations with two brands. In fact, they received many inquiries and contacts, but due to time and manpower constraints, they only accepted a small portion of them and declined the rest.
Even so, the workshop's plans are already scheduled for a year and a half from now.
The same applies to the Qinghe gold shop; they stop taking orders for custom jewelry once they've received ten orders. They have even fewer staff than the weaving workshop.
These two previously unknown workshops, after a year of dormancy, finally took off.
Besides these high-end lines that are generally no less than six or even seven figures, many netizens are also tagging Qinghe Ancient Town, hoping that they can also consider the needs of tourists and offer some more affordable options.
Lu Xiaoqi had a notice issued stating that after the second phase of opening, a high-end Hanfu experience center would be open to the public, where tourists could rent these magnificent Hanfu costumes to experience them and have their photos taken. Meanwhile, the cultural and creative department of the ancient town is working with Qinghe Gold Shop to develop more affordable and accessible products.
This has led many people to look forward to the second season.
Time, unhurriedly, has entered late autumn again, and winter in Jiangnan will soon arrive.
One late night in November.
Lu Xiaoqi took Su Jun in a small boat to the center of the lake in Zone 8.
She found the blueprints for the Hua'e Xianghui Tower in the system space.
【Do you confirm the use of this drawing?】
Lu Xiaoqi naturally chose yes and confirmed the specific location for construction on the system's map: the small island where the wooden tower was located in the center of the lake.
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