Their chance came in 2013. To encourage entrepreneurship, China Shengze Textile Science and Technology Pioneer Park provided regular, rent-free premises for emerging talent. Sheng's team was successful in its application. Without the pressure of meeting the demands of monthly rent, they used their financial resources by investing in product development. With Sheng working on design and Huang working on marketing, Chiayi was born.
Considering their location, the qipao was a natural choice. "First, the silk industry in Shengze is well-developed, the exquisite silk and the elegance of the qipao bring out the best in each other and it is a key representative of traditional culture," Shen says.
The designer says they want to contribute to protecting and passing on that culture by innovating the design of the qipao to meet the habits and tastes of modern consumers by combining fashionable colors and fabrics, making it more suitable for daily wear.