‘Lifestyle rather than performance’: a visual guide to wearing Chinese hanfu by Marcelo Duhalde

This project aims to explain the nationwide trend of wearing traditional Chinese clothing, “Hanfu,” as everyday attire. Through a combination of text, visuals, charts, illustrations, and diagrams, readers are given an in-depth understanding of Hanfu's heritage and its role in contemporary Chinese culture.

The project involved extensive research. In addition to traditional methods, such as reviewing research papers and interviewing experts, we took a more hands-on approach to grasp the modern significance of Hanfu. For six months, we participated in a Hanfu enthusiast chat group. This allowed us to familiarize ourselves with the community's specific terminology and gain insights into what Hanfu means to them and the elements they prioritize.

The Hanfu enthusiasts we worked with also served as our models. One advantage of this was that the outfits they wore during our studio shoots were their authentic daily attire, including complete ensembles from head to toe, along with makeup. This added a genuine level of authenticity to our photographs. However, the challenge we faced was that they were not professional models. During the shoots, we had to provide on-the-spot art direction, making adjustments and offering suggestions to ensure the best possible outcome.