Chinese embroideries and their application in Chinese dress and dress accessories are both fascinating and ingenious.

The colourful and intricate patterns are full of symbolism and you almost need a magnifying glass to study the many fine stitches.

The basic fabric used was mostly silk and sometimes cotton. The colours used to dye the silks and thread were found in nature, until the invention of aniline dyes during the middle of the 19th century.

Throughout many centuries the dress code of the imperial family, high ranking palace officials, scholars and military was strictly ruled by the Emperor. In 1766, during the Manchu rule an explicit set of regulations was published, dictating the correct attire, dress as well as all accessories, for all occasions, seasons and celebrations . Anyone found not wearing the correct attire would be severely punished. Thus by observing a persons clothes and accessories one could recognise his or her rank and status.

In our collection you will find robes, shoes for bound feet and many colourful headdresses.

Children's hats: are a folk art tradition in China, where babies were given tiger hats and shoes during their first year in the hopes of warding off evil spirits. Each hat is carefully hand-embroidered and is rich with symbols of good luck and longevity. Even in modern China, children wear tiger-headed caps and shoes embroidered with tiger heads to ward off evil spirits and sleep on tiger-shaped pillows to make them robust.

Chinese Opera: The headdress is a very important accessory in the Chinese Opera costume as it helps the audience to identify specific roles. Elaborate headdresses decorated with sequins and pearls are only worn by people of high status such as emperors and empresses, generals, princes and chief concubines. More important characters will wear more ornate and striking headdresses.

Court hats from Ching dynasty: Throughout many centuries the dress code of the imperial family, high ranking palace officials, scholars and military was strictly ruled by the Emperor. In 1766, during the Manchu rule an explicit set of regulations was published, dictating the correct attire, dress as well as all accessories, for all occasions, seasons and celebrations . Anyone found not wearing the correct attire would be severely punished. This also included wearing the correct hat: the Mandarin winter-and summer hat, decorated with the correct adornment on top, indicating the Mandarin’s rank.