From The Beginning Of Mao Zedong's Red Capital Era

The red capital store is on display for Mao Zedong. Grey Tunic (Replica)

In the lobby of Hongdu company, the grey Zhongshan suit made by Mao Zedong for red is placed in the window. After that, it is written, "1949. The winner's choice."

As the name of "red capital" implies. Red Capital Like this, the beginning of this brand is also full of special political color.

In February 1956, before the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Khrushchev In the twenty Congress of the Communist Party of China, the secret report against Stalin has aroused great repercussions in the international community. In the eight preparations, Mao Zedong and other CPC leaders believed that we should take the Soviet Union as an example and independently explore and explore the road suited to China's situation.

At this time, the central office also intends to make special decoration for Mao Zedong, shaping its brand new appearance in the Eighth National Congress.

At that time, the Zhongnanhai fabrication technician was the prince of the city. In the north, such top technicians are rare, and more industry players concentrate on "Shanghai". Most of them work out the "red gang", that is, "red hair" (Westerners) sewing suits. According to the instructions of the central office, Wang Ziqing and others went to Shanghai and chose 12 costumes technicians like Tian Atong, Wang Tingmiao and Wang Fucheng to go to Beijing.

12 clothing technicians were arranged to live in a small courtyard in Zhongnanhai, forming the "clothing department of the special accounting office of the general office of the central office", which is specially designed for the central leaders. They go to work at 9 in the morning and leave work at 5 p.m., and they will work overnight when they meet urgent task.

Technicians collectively referred to as "Zhongnanhai staff", daily communications must also abide by the confidentiality system, there is a special approval to go out. They learned that the foremost task of the garment processing Department was to design a dress fit for Mao Zedong before the Eighth Conference.

Tian Yi Tong, the 31 year old garment technician, is most optimistic about 12. At the age of 13, he went to Fenghua, Shanghai to help Xue Yi. After three years, he applied for a English Garment Company in the concession. He not only made suits, leather, cheongsam, but also made all kinds of fashion ladies' clothes, and soon became the top tailors in Shanghai, and owned his own "Tian Atong clothing store". When the general office of the central government held skills appraisal in Shanghai, Tian Ya Tong picked the head Kui.

In August 1956, Tian An Tong received the task of making clothes for Mao Zedong. The central office staff repeatedly told him that this is a top secret.

At 12 in the middle of the night, the staff led Tian to the study of Zhongnanhai. For security reasons, he can only stand at Mao Zedong 5 meters away from the "visual measurement body". But thanks to his rich experience, Tian Tong has succeeded in visual observation.

According to the characteristics of Mao Zedong's broad forehead, big face and broad sense, Tian Tong has transformed the traditional Chinese tunic style. He designed a new collar that changed the traditional collar to a new long and long collar, and increased the neckline to 46 centimeters according to Mao Zedong's neck characteristics. In order to highlight Mao Zedong's tall and upright figure, Tian Tong specially made the front of the coat wider and the back slightly wider, the rear piece was slightly longer than the front piece, the shoulder pad was slightly upturned, the middle waist was slightly concave, and the sleeve cage was also slightly improved.

Mao Zedong was very satisfied with the design and specially took a half size standard. Later, this standard was hung on the Tiananmen tower. In September 16, 1956, Mao Zedong Wearing the big sharp collar Zhongshan suit appeared at the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The new appearance of the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China and Mao Zedong has attracted much attention at home and abroad. The western media, which used to look for meaning in detail, call the transformed Chinese tunic suit "Mao suit".

With the resumption of international contacts and the increase of diplomatic activities in New China, the image of leaders and diplomats of new China is badly needed for Zhongnanhai. Through Zhou Enlai coordination, from March 1956 to April, a number of Western-style clothes shops in Shanghai moved to the capital, and gradually opened western style clothing processing stores near the Zhongnanhai, the Ministry of foreign affairs and the embassy area, mainly serving embassies and overseas personnel.

In 1958, 7 clothing stores in Beijing, such as Bo Wei, Raymond, and Cheng Cun, merged and set up the union fashion factory. At the beginning of the "Cultural Revolution" in 1966, the original Dongjiao min Lane store was renamed the "anti imperialist clothing store", but in order to facilitate the embassy staff to come to make the costume in other countries, it was renamed the "red capital" in second years, and has been used so far.

After finishing eight tasks, Wang Ziqing, Tian ATUN and other garment technicians moved from Zhongnanhai to Hongdu.