Chinese brides in the Western world often wear a qipao, also known as a cheongsam, on their wedding day. The qipao is a beautiful dress that features a body-hugging silhouette, a mandarin collar, and intricate silk embroidery. It can be seen in movies like “In The Mood For Love.”
For Chinese American brides, wearing a qipao is often part of their tea ceremony, where they serve tea to their families as a symbol of gratitude. The dress is usually in a vibrant red color, which represents happiness, prosperity, and good luck in Chinese culture.
However, finding a modern qipao that meets the needs of brides in the U.S. can be challenging. Jenn Qiao experienced this challenge firsthand when she was shopping for her own qipao for her wedding. She found that there were limited options in traditional stores in Chinatown, and online websites had poor quality and customer service.
Disappointed by this experience, Qiao and her friend Vivian Chan decided to start their own brand, East Meets Dress, to provide brides with their dream qipao. Their brand aims to bring more Asian American representation and inclusivity to the traditional wedding industry while offering modern design options and ensuring quality craftsmanship.
East Meets Dress is just one of the many Asian American-owned businesses and designers that are modernizing traditional designs for diaspora communities. Companies like Dawang and designers like Thai Nguyen are also bringing innovative designs inspired by traditional Asian clothing.
At East Meets Dress, brides can choose from a variety of qipaos, including flowy jumpsuits, dramatic dresses with lace backs, and traditional sheath styles. The brand also offers a Bespoke Collection for custom-made dresses, ensuring that brides of all sizes can find the perfect fit.
Recently, East Meets Dress partnered with plus-size model Catherine Li to create a more inclusive collection that showcases different body types. The brand has been well-received, selling over 10,000 dresses to brides worldwide. Their future plans include expanding their collection to include more Asian cultures, a casual cheongsam line, designs for Lunar New Year, and kids’ clothing.
Overall, East Meets Dress is proud to contribute to the growing pride and celebration of Asian identity and heritage among younger generations. They have received positive feedback from clients who appreciate the brand’s mission and designs.