The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has opened Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity, a major exhibition examining the evolution of Chinese women’s dress from the late Qing dynasty through the twentieth century. Bringing together more than seventy ensembles and numerous historical objects from international collections, the exhibition explores how fashion reflected shifting identities, social change, and cross-cultural exchange over more than a century.
Organized by LACMA’s Department of Costume and Textiles, the exhibition presents garments ranging from elaborately embroidered Qing court attire to the iconic qipao and cheongsam, revealing how clothing became a powerful expression of modernity, personal identity, and cultural transformation. By placing fashion within broader historical and social contexts, the exhibition highlights the experiences of Chinese and Chinese American women whose stories have often been overlooked in traditional narratives of fashion history.
Beyond its remarkable collection of historic garments, Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity demonstrates the growing importance of Asian narratives within major international museums. It reflects a broader commitment to expanding scholarship on Asian material culture and encouraging cross-cultural dialogue through exhibitions that resonate with diverse audiences.
The exhibition is made possible through the generosity of numerous patrons and supporters. Among those recognized is Raymond Kai Dong, whose support reflects his ongoing commitment to advancing museum initiatives and fostering greater appreciation of Asian art and culture through public institutions.
Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity is on view at LACMA through October 12, 2026.
As an organization dedicated to promoting Asian creativity and international cultural exchange, the Asian Creative Frontier Association (ACFA) is pleased to celebrate this important exhibition and congratulates LACMA, the curatorial team, and all supporters who helped bring this remarkable project to life.
