An unusual fashion show in which the models wear shrouds designed for dead people has aroused interest in China, especially for the sophistication of the items on display. The event was part of a funeral culture and supplies exhibition in the city of Tianjin in northern China at the end of June, Yantai TV reported. On the catwalk were models dressed in glamorous funeral attire, which looked a lot like clothes for the living.
The beautifully designed dresses included a blue cheongsam, a crimson bubble skirt and a long turquoise coat, adorned with traditional Chinese elements such as embroidered buckles and Mandarin collars. “Do you recognise them as funeral attire? I think they are beautiful,” one man in the audience said in a video that has been viewed 500,000 times on Weibo. In China, funeral clothes are worn by the dead at the ceremony before they are placed in a coffin or cremated.
They are usually designed using vivid colours, following the pattern of traditional Chinese clothes, but loose and flowing. Certain important details are required, such as sleeves long enough to cover the deceased’s hands, they must not be black and cannot be made of fur. Customarily, the funeral dress is bought and prepared by the dead person’s daughters because they are considered to be meticulous when it comes to choosing clothes.
Sons are generally responsible for organising the funeral event. The Tianjin show sparked a heated debate on mainland social media. “It’s not right for .
