In Singapore, cheongsam could be seen worn regularly by the locals until the 1960s. But while many Singaporeans’ dresses in traditional cultural costume, some prefer to dress in more modern apparel. Because of the hot weather, many people prefer to dress in casual, cool apparel, which generally consists of Western clothing such as jeans, shorts, flip-flops and T-shirts.
However, as an expat in Singapore, if you are interested in exploring Singapore’s traditional womenswear, you can try out the modernised cheongsam that a couple of brands are selling these days.
One such brand that we came across is BLUM, which recently launched an all-new cheongsam collection.
Introducing BLUM
Blum & Co is a renowned Singaporean business that has been producing attractive and trending workwear for women for over 30 years. The BLUM brand has been an exclusive label for professional women since 1992. As a local brand, BLUM has had the honour of dressing female leaders in various industries, regional broadcasters, and media personalities.
The philosophy of Blum & Co's runs deep right through to their collections. With quality fabrics hand-picked from Korea, Japan and Europe, each design is tailored with Asian proportions in mind. Every piece is a statement that inspires confident femininity. Beyond the label, Blum & Co believes that the business touches hearts and influences positive change.
The History of Cheongsam
Although it is commonly assumed to be a traditional Chinese costume, the origin of this fashionwear actually dates back to the Qing era. During the Qing era, both men and women wore an article of long, one-piece clothing that hung loosely from the body and was expressly meant to disguise the wearer’s body type.
The cheongsam of the early days was a full-sleeved garment with loose cuts. As years passed, it evolved into bold designs with slimmer fits, shorter lengths, and a slit up the side. Unfortunately, as the communist government took over, it became a memory of the distant past, as wearing a cheongsam in China became forbidden. The style then made its way to Hong Kong, where it was the foremost fashion statement for years, until easier-to-carry Western wear took its place.
Today, many officials and ministers don the cheongsam in both official and informal occasions as a representation of their heritage.
BLUM’s Modernised Cheongsam Collection
With the introduction of the traditional cheongsam made-modern in their new line of workwear, BLUM has continued its legacy of innovation. The BLUM fashion design team took the elegant fabrics and sleek designs from the traditional cheongsam to create BLUM cheongsams with a mix of modern elements that will appeal to today's modern working women.
By giving cheongsam an ever more modern look, BLUM has designed its collection to be worn throughout the year for both day and evening. The goal of this initiative is to revive the feminine aura and appeal imbued by the cheongsam for today's corporate woman.
BLUM has used light and airy fabrics sources from the best apparel top quality manufacturers all over Europe, Korea and Japan, to create cheongsams that drape well and complement modern accessories. The collection’s versatility is a testament to the company’s experience in dressing Singapore’s urban women over 3 decades.
A Word From BLUM’s Founder
The founder and owner of BLUM says, “We have designed workwear for Singapore women for so many years that we are familiar with what Singaporeans like in their office wear. We are excited to launch our all-new cheongsam collection as we believe that it is time for a reintroduction of this feminine trend in the workplace and that it will be well-received,”
