'Mao suit'
Jacket
1976 (made)
1976 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This style of suit was initially known as a 'Zhongshan suit' after Sun Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen), President of the Republic of China for a brief period in 1912. Sun Yat-sen first developed this suit as a form of national dress that would embody modern values as well as a notion of equality and uniformity in the newly established Chinese Republic.
In its original design the suit had six centre front buttons and upper and lower slit pockets and a waisted back section with a vent, the collar was a high stand up collar. The design later developed during the republican era to incorporate elements of military dress, including a turned down collar and four symmetrically placed pockets. When Mao Zedong became leader of the People's Republic of China in 1949, this type of suit was adopted as the national uniform of the people. It was widely worn by the Chinese population from 1949-1976 and as a result this style of suit is now most commonly known as a 'Mao Suit'. The suit came in a range of colours including grey, mustard yellow, brown and navy blue.
In its original design the suit had six centre front buttons and upper and lower slit pockets and a waisted back section with a vent, the collar was a high stand up collar. The design later developed during the republican era to incorporate elements of military dress, including a turned down collar and four symmetrically placed pockets. When Mao Zedong became leader of the People's Republic of China in 1949, this type of suit was adopted as the national uniform of the people. It was widely worn by the Chinese population from 1949-1976 and as a result this style of suit is now most commonly known as a 'Mao Suit'. The suit came in a range of colours including grey, mustard yellow, brown and navy blue.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Dyed twill cotton |
| Brief description | Jacket, blue twill weave cotton, made in Beijing, China, 1976 |
| Physical description | Man's Jacket. Front fastening with five buttons and corresponding holes running down the front of the jacket and a metal hook and loop at the collars. Long sleeves and short turn-down collar. On the front of the jacket are two stitched, buttoning breast pockets and two further stitched and buttoned pockets in the lower half of the jacket. No lining. Royal blue twill cotton. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | Beijing - Dong cheng qu hou yong kang wu qi fuzhuang chang.
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| Credit line | Given by Andy McKillop |
| Historical context | The 'Mao Suit (or the evolved 'Zhongshan Suit') was the uniform worn by the people of China between 1949 - 1976. This suit was purchased around 1976, towards the end of the Cultural Revolution; the 'Gang of Four' would be arrested and imprisoned imminently. (From donor's notes). |
| Production | Produced in the East city district 'Forever healthy' 5, 7 clothing factory, Beijing |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This style of suit was initially known as a 'Zhongshan suit' after Sun Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen), President of the Republic of China for a brief period in 1912. Sun Yat-sen first developed this suit as a form of national dress that would embody modern values as well as a notion of equality and uniformity in the newly established Chinese Republic. In its original design the suit had six centre front buttons and upper and lower slit pockets and a waisted back section with a vent, the collar was a high stand up collar. The design later developed during the republican era to incorporate elements of military dress, including a turned down collar and four symmetrically placed pockets. When Mao Zedong became leader of the People's Republic of China in 1949, this type of suit was adopted as the national uniform of the people. It was widely worn by the Chinese population from 1949-1976 and as a result this style of suit is now most commonly known as a 'Mao Suit'. The suit came in a range of colours including grey, mustard yellow, brown and navy blue. |
| Bibliographic reference | Pages 18 & 19 in 'Evolution and Revolution: Chinese Dress 1700's - 1900's', Ed. Claire Roberts, Powerhouse Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1 86317 0677 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.3-2005 |
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| Record created | September 19, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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