Clothing is one of the richest expressions of material culture helping to define cultural identity. The loose fitting trousers and jacket or cheongsam featured in this collection of children's clothing is one of the most recognisable of national costumes and is significant as it represents a common style of clothing that has existed throughout China's long history.

Traditional Chinese children's costume was styled along the same lines as adult clothing. Chinese clothing is simple in construction, practical and suits all body shapes. A core value and fundamental belief in Chinese society is that obligations to ancestors must be fulfilled. Historically, clothes that were uniform showed a person's place within a clan. Every man and woman was designated a place in society with a complex system of dress regulations imposed originating as far back as the Zhou Dynasty (122BCE-221BCE). Clothing was a means of differentiating between various levels of society and as a measure of controlling the populace.

Political upheaval during the middle years of the twentieth century impacted on traditional costume in China and by the 1980s the wearing of traditional dress was in decline as increased urbanisation and a predilection for things imported from the west began to influence dress.

Children's clothing in China is styled along the same lines as adult costumes. Cotton fabric was used for everyday clothing and silks and satins were saved for special occasions. The sleeveless jacket is cut in the same style as the long sleeve jacket and was traditionally worn in warmer weather over a cheongsam. Colours were sombre with black and blue the most common colours.

This sleeveless jacket in slate grey silk was worn by the donor on special occasions when he was a young child living with his family in Hong Kong.

This collection of clothing including this sleeveless jacket, was donated to the Powerhouse Museum in recognition of the Museum's contribution to multiculturalism in Australia. The donor feels a special connection to Australia as his sister and his son chose to make Australia their home. The donor regularly visits his son who lives in Sydney.

The clothing represents for the donor fond memories of a carefree childhood and family life in contrast to the horrors and deprivation he witnessed living under the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong from November 1941 to August 1945.

Jacket, boys, sleeveless, handmade, silk satin, Hong Kong, 1930-1940

Hand made bespoke sleeveless jacket for a young boy in slate grey silk. The silk features a zigzag damask design. The garment has a mandarin collar and opens at the centre front and is fastened by five loop and button fastenings. It is lined in green silk satin jacquard. There is a loop in slate grey silk sewn on to the inside collar seam.

Made: Hong Kong; 1930 - 1940

2007/114/2

1930 - 1940

316 mm