Chinese Qipao

Chinese Qipao

WATCH FULL PROGRAM

One-Hour HD Documentary (2020)

Shanghai socialites in the 1920’s and 30’s made the body hugging qipao and cheongsam dresses famous. Today, they are still a part of Chinese fashion houses who combine both tradition and contemporary artistry in their couture and casual designs.

Colleen Quen, a couturier and artist living in San Francisco, and fashion designer Arkadiy Polezhaev from San Jose, California travel to Shanghai, China to discover how this fashion staple is more than just a dress. From the traditional bridal qipao with exquisite embroidery and buttons to modern casual designs, they discover the history, culture and story behind each piece and how they’re made.

Along the way they visit the historical Paramount ballroom, eat at the infamous Canton Table and discover the metamorphosis of the silkworm. They meet designers who utilize modern technology in their bold designs to those who collect historical robes that influence their design process.

What designer gave up her BMW X5 in order to obtain a 250 year old treasure? Discover this and more as the qipao journey begins.

: Cecilia Chiang showing her qipao collection to Colleen

: Colleen interviewing Cecilia Chiang

: Shanghai Yuyuan garden overlooking the city

: Filming Yuyuan garden

: Filming the old building in Yuyuan garden

: Yuyuan garden’s old tea house

: Tasting delicious Xiaolongbao dumplings

: Looking at a qipao with embroidery

: Discussing the design of the qipao with embroidery

: Looking at a black qipao

: Looking through different qipaos

: Watching a seamstress cutting qipao fabric

: Interviewing Colleen in Yuyuan garden

: Arkadiy in front of a beautiful view of Shanghai

: An exquisite qipao at Longfeng qipao store

: A variety of qipaos at Longfeng qipao store

: A qipao history class taught by Ms. Wang

: Colleen learning how to drink tea properly

: A mural of qipaos at Canton Table restaurant

: A mural of qipaos at Canton Table restaurant

: A delicious meal at Canton Table restaurant

: Talking about food at Canton Table restaurant

: Shanghai Paramount exterior shot

: Listening to a singer at Paramount

: Filming the singer at Paramount

: Interviewing Mr. Zheng the owner of Paramount

: Chatting with Paramount owner Mr. Zheng

: Looking at a qipao in Ligulong qipao store

: Checking out the embroidery work of garments at Ligulong qipao store

: Filming Gu embroidery master Ms. Zhu

: Learning about Gu embroidery from master Zhu

: Master Zhu working on Gu embroidery

: Learning about the old silk thread drawing machine

: Arkadiy turning the old silk thread drawing machine

: Colleen turning the old silk thread drawing machine

: Checking out a modern silk thread drawing machine

: Filming an artist designing a qipao pattern

: Watching the artist paint the qipao pattern

: Filming the master working on the qipao templates

: Watching the master working on the qipao templates

: Filming at the Hangzhou silk market

: Colleen and Arkadiy at the Hangzhou silk market

: Colleen checking out qipaos at the Hangzhou silk market

: Filming fashion designer Ms. Gong Hangyu

: Ms. Gong showing her qipao

: Filming fashion designer Yezi

: Yezi showing her qipao

: Arkadiy wearing a black robe with golden embroidery

: Colleen wearing a black robe with golden embroidery

: Filming a qipao master at work

: Looking at a 200 year-old imperial robe

: Checking out a 200 year-old imperial qipao

: Checking out an ancient qipao

: Looking at a Qing dynasty official robe

: Colleen picking up her first tailor-made qipao

: Colleen wearing her first tailor-made qipao

: Colleen wearing her second tailor-made qipao

: Colleen wearing her second tailor-made qipao

: Film crew

Not all air dates and times are listed here.
Check your local listings for current schedules.

To request Chinese Qipao contact the TV Programmer at your local PBS station.

DVDs are currently not available.

Description

One-Hour HD Documentary (2020)

Shanghai socialites in the 1920’s and 30’s made the body hugging qipao and cheongsam dresses famous. Today, they are still a part of Chinese fashion houses who combine both tradition and contemporary artistry in their couture and casual designs.

Colleen Quen, a couturier and artist living in San Francisco, and fashion designer Arkadiy Polezhaev from San Jose, California travel to Shanghai, China to discover how this fashion staple is more than just a dress. From the traditional bridal qipao with exquisite embroidery and buttons to modern casual designs, they discover the history, culture and story behind each piece and how they’re made.

Along the way they visit the historical Paramount ballroom, eat at the infamous Canton Table and discover the metamorphosis of the silkworm. They meet designers who utilize modern technology in their bold designs to those who collect historical robes that influence their design process.

What designer gave up her BMW X5 in order to obtain a 250 year old treasure? Discover this and more as the qipao journey begins.

Gallery

: Cecilia Chiang showing her qipao collection to Colleen

: Colleen interviewing Cecilia Chiang

: Shanghai Yuyuan garden overlooking the city

: Filming Yuyuan garden

: Filming the old building in Yuyuan garden

: Yuyuan garden’s old tea house

: Tasting delicious Xiaolongbao dumplings

: Looking at a qipao with embroidery

: Discussing the design of the qipao with embroidery

: Looking at a black qipao

: Looking through different qipaos

: Watching a seamstress cutting qipao fabric

: Interviewing Colleen in Yuyuan garden

: Arkadiy in front of a beautiful view of Shanghai

: An exquisite qipao at Longfeng qipao store

: A variety of qipaos at Longfeng qipao store

: A qipao history class taught by Ms. Wang

: Colleen learning how to drink tea properly

: A mural of qipaos at Canton Table restaurant

: A mural of qipaos at Canton Table restaurant

: A delicious meal at Canton Table restaurant

: Talking about food at Canton Table restaurant

: Shanghai Paramount exterior shot

: Listening to a singer at Paramount

: Filming the singer at Paramount

: Interviewing Mr. Zheng the owner of Paramount

: Chatting with Paramount owner Mr. Zheng

: Looking at a qipao in Ligulong qipao store

: Checking out the embroidery work of garments at Ligulong qipao store

: Filming Gu embroidery master Ms. Zhu

: Learning about Gu embroidery from master Zhu

: Master Zhu working on Gu embroidery

: Learning about the old silk thread drawing machine

: Arkadiy turning the old silk thread drawing machine

: Colleen turning the old silk thread drawing machine

: Checking out a modern silk thread drawing machine

: Filming an artist designing a qipao pattern

: Watching the artist paint the qipao pattern

: Filming the master working on the qipao templates

: Watching the master working on the qipao templates

: Filming at the Hangzhou silk market

: Colleen and Arkadiy at the Hangzhou silk market

: Colleen checking out qipaos at the Hangzhou silk market

: Filming fashion designer Ms. Gong Hangyu

: Ms. Gong showing her qipao

: Filming fashion designer Yezi

: Yezi showing her qipao

: Arkadiy wearing a black robe with golden embroidery

: Colleen wearing a black robe with golden embroidery

: Filming a qipao master at work

: Looking at a 200 year-old imperial robe

: Checking out a 200 year-old imperial qipao

: Checking out an ancient qipao

: Looking at a Qing dynasty official robe

: Colleen picking up her first tailor-made qipao

: Colleen wearing her first tailor-made qipao

: Colleen wearing her second tailor-made qipao

: Colleen wearing her second tailor-made qipao

: Film crew

TV Airing Schedule

Not all air dates and times are listed here.
Check your local listings for current schedules.

To request Chinese Qipao contact the TV Programmer at your local PBS station.

ALASKA
KUACDT	Fairbanks, AK	9/7/2020 9/8/2020	9:00 pm 3:00 am

Purchase DVD

DVDs are currently not available.