Why are more and more people choosing tangzhuang?
When international superstars step onto the red carpet wearing stunning tangzhuang, and overseas designers add frog closures and mandarin collars to their new collections, tangzhuang—this iconic piece of Eastern culture—is making a powerful comeback on the global fashion scene. It’s becoming China’s new cultural calling card. We’ve covered tangzhuang’s origins and cultural roots in past blogs (Click here to learn more about the historical origins of tangzhuang), so today we’re skipping the basics. Instead, let’s explore what tangzhuang’s bold revival really means behind the scenes.
1. The Tangzhuang Revival: Multiple Forces at Play
Cultural Confidence Rising
China’s growing global influence has sparked worldwide interest in Chinese elements. Tangzhuang, as a visual symbol, sits right at the forefront.
Fashion’s Eastern Obsession
Top designers like Gucci and Dior keep drawing inspiration from tangzhuang’s collars, closures, and floral patterns—giving them a modern twist.
Star Power Kicking In
When big names like Jackie Chan, Rihanna, Emma Watson, or even Nobel winner Tu Youyou wear tangzhuang publicly, it blows up on social media and turns tangzhuang into a hot trend.
Overseas Chinese Keeping It Alive
During holidays like Lunar New Year or Mid-Autumn Festival, tangzhuang becomes a warm symbol of cultural pride and nostalgia for Chinese communities worldwide.
2. Big Moments That Prove It’s Trendy
The appearance of Tangzhuang elements in various Met Gala
In 2015, Rihanna wore a custom gold-embroidered dragon robe by Chinese designer Guo Pei to the Met Gala. The outfit featured a Chinese-style stand collar, frog buttons on the front, and was covered head-to-toe with traditional tangzhuang patterns like dragons, phoenixes, and cloud motifs. Though not a full tangzhuang, its design elements were all derived from tangzhuang. Vogue dubbed the look "the red carpet queen's coronation" — it marked the first time a Western celebrity caused a global sensation at the Met Gala in a high-fashion Chinese-style gown, directly propelling "Eastern aesthetics" to become a key fashion keyword that year.
At the 2023 Met Gala, Cai Xukun's custom black Prada coat, while rooted in a suit silhouette, also incorporated the classic frog button design from tangzhuang at the collar, with the crystal-embroidered tie subtly evoking cloud pattern imagery. This look earned the 5th spot on Vogue's official "Best Dressed" list (the only Asian male celebrity) and was praised as "reconstructing Eastern symbols with modern craftsmanship." There are many such cases, which firmly confirm the significant status of tangzhuang elements in the fashion world.
Film Festival Standouts
At international film events, Chinese stars choosing tangzhuang as their red-carpet look earned global praise for its elegance and craft—making it a signature style.
Luxury Brands Jumping In
Brands like Louis Vuitton launched limited collections mixing tangzhuang touches (think closure details or cloud-patterned bags). They sold fast, proving the market’s all in.
3. More Than Fashion: A Cultural Conversation
Tangzhuang’s global moment isn’t just a passing trend. It shows the world’s growing respect for China’s cultural depth. Think of tangzhuang like a Rosetta Stone—it unlocks curiosity about China’s "mysteries" and sparks real cross-cultural exchange. Every time you fasten a frog closure or admire its woven patterns, you’re quietly engaging with Eastern values: harmony, respect, and openness.
The link below is the same style as the cover, from the "Koi" collection by Chinese trendy brand "Bihai Chaosheng". If you also like the style of this brand, there was a special blog post introducing it before. You can click here to check it out.
