Designer transforms lowly pattern into high fashion

The Shanghai fashion show reminded many of the checkered history of dongbei dahua.

According to Hu, the origin of the floral print can be found in the traditional Chinese pattern yi nian jing, literally meaning “the scenery of a year”, featuring representative flowers of the four seasons including the peach blossom, the lotus flower, the chrysanthemum, the peony and the plum blossom. Used in fabrics, lacquerware, ceramics and jewelry, the print flourished during the Song dynasty (960-1279).

In the 1950s and 60s, designers at the East China Textile Management Bureau in Shanghai borrowed inspiration from the traditional pattern and created the dongbei dahua prototype featuring blossoming peonies and the phoenix. Cotton cloth with the floral print has since become a popular choice for blanket covers and bed sheets in Northern China, especially in rural areas.