About Us

About Us

Bella Qin liked cheongsam since she was a child. She studied industrial electrical automation at China Architecture University; She finished accounting program at California State University, and later she studied Chinese acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine at South Baylo University. Bella Qin loves Chinese culture and history,she hopes that through the launch of QI PAO BY BELLA allows more people to understand Chinese culture and appreciate the beauty of Chinese Dresses!

Qi pao history

The cheongsam appeared in 1921 and became popular in 1925, because the cheongsam allowed women to wear the “robe” (AKA Qipao Dress) that only men could wear. It embodies the equality of men and women in the late Qing Dynasty, cheongsam Dress became the national dress for women in the mainland of the Republic of China. In the first half of the 20th century, cheongsam was very popular in the upper class of Shanghai, and it was the standard outfit for social gatherings of celebrities. This trend also spread to Hong Kong. Due to the large number of foreigners in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the cheongsam eventually became “the Chinese Dress representing Chinese women” in the eyes of foreigners. Until today, cheongsam is still one of the representative symbols of Shanghai and Hong Kong in modern history.

The government of the Republic of China promulgated a decree in 1929, identifying the cheongsam as one of the national dresses. The wives of the heads of state of the Republic of China often wore cheongsams on diplomatic occasions, but sometimes they also wore Western-style skirts.By the 1940s, the cheongsam developed into a waist design

that showed women’s curves, boldly exposed, and simple to wear, and was welcomed by the intellectuals at that time. Women wearing cheongsam would be considered anti-traditional, independent and free by the intellectuals new Chinese women. Westernized cheongsam has been considered a symbol of women’s liberation, coupled with the social atmosphere of being invaded by foreign powers at that time, wearing the original Qing Dynasty cheongsam was considered feudal and reactionary. This trend spread from Shanghai to the whole of China, making cheongsam the main clothing of urban women and educated young women in China at that time. Even Chinese civilian women in backward areas have changed to beautiful modern cheongsams because of simple clothes, cheap prices, and equal treatment with the upper class. All these lead to the fact that the cheongsam broke away from the Manchu clothing system and began to form its own school. From the 1920s to the end of the 1940s, Chinese cheongsams have been popular for more than 20 years, changing the old appearance of Chinese women who have been wearing chests and arms for a long time, allowing women to fully display their figure and curves. Liberation is inseparable. By the 1930s and 1940s, cheongsam had become an important dress for urban women. Ordinary women, especially teachers and young students in charge of the whip, are prevalent in wearing “Indanthrene” blue cloth cheongsam that does not fade.