The melody of Rose, Rose I Love You (玫瑰玫瑰我爱你) filled the air at Shanghai's Yangtze Hotel as Lu Manman (卢漫漫) watched models move with astonishing grace. They weren't just walking; they practiced Tai Chi, broke into street dance, and even rode skateboards – all while wearing her revolutionary creations: Sport Cheongsam. For Lu Manman, who came to Shanghai from Guangxi 17 years ago, this moment was the culmination of a dream: crafting a traditional Chinese garment that could finally keep pace with the dynamic lives of modern women. Her eyes glistened, witnessing the impossible made tangible.
The Rebel Designer's Journey
Lu Manman's path to becoming the founder of Sport Cheongsam was anything but linear. Arriving in Shanghai nearly two decades ago, she navigated careers as a Japanese translator and a psychological counselor before immersing herself in the world of cheongsam as a cultural lecturer. This deep immersion, however, sparked a rebellion against tradition. "On May 20, 2019, I gave myself a gift – founding the Sport Cheongsam brand," Lu recalls. "Like the rebellious streak in my character, I wanted to shatter the stereotype of the cheongsam as solely elegant and demure. I aimed to create a cheongsam you could evensportin."
This vision was born from her own lived experience as a devoted cheongsam wearer. She keenly observed the vastly expanded life radius of contemporary women compared to the limited social spheres of the cheongsam's early 20th-century heyday. "Modern women transition from office to nightlife, the gym, travel, business trips, speaking engagements... They crave self-expression in every facet," Lu explains. Translating this need into a functional garment meant confronting significant challenges, demanding both belief and rigorous testing. "Many only believe when they see," she states, "but we believed first, then acted." Her team pushed the boundaries, testing prototypes in running, yoga, dance, and even boxing sessions to validate their revolutionary concept.
Fabric Innovation, Cultural Expression
The Sport Cheongsam's magic lies in its seamless blend of heritage aesthetics and cutting-edge functionality. The pivotal innovation is a subtle yet transformative 15-degree increase in the traditional side slit. This seemingly minor adjustment unlocks unprecedented freedom of movement while preserving the cheongsam's iconic, figure-hugging silhouette. At the launch event, guests could personally test the specially engineered fabrics for stretch and breathability at interactive innovation booths, experiencing the material science behind the revolution firsthand.
Shanghai's unique cultural DNA profoundly shaped Lu Manman's interpretation and reimagining of the cheongsam. "As the birthplace of the modern cheongsam, Shanghai naturally instills a deep connection to this garment in the women who live here," she reflects. Her "Rose Life" collection vividly embodies this fusion. Inspired by the Shanghainese writer Cheng Naishan's (程乃珊) evocative phrase "red dust, green waves," the series features bold reds, vibrant greens, and striking blends of both, adorned with large, open rose motifs. "Beyond the magnolia, roses symbolize Shanghai women for me," Lu shares. "This collection represents the blossoming life a woman achieves after navigating life's complex currents."
Twelve Cities, Infinite Possibilities
The launch's most electrifying moment unveiled the "Rhythm of the East: Twelve Cities Sport Cheongsam Project," a groundbreaking collaboration between Lu Manman and renowned Shanghai-style painter Lu Zhide (陆志德). This fusion of fashion and fine art resulted in a stunning series of paintings where Lu Zhide's distinctive visual language met Sport Cheongsam's innovative spirit. His artwork shattered preconceptions, proving the cheongsam's adaptability to diverse urban landscapes and dynamic activities.
In Lu Zhide's canvases, the Sport Cheongsam truly came alive. His Shanghai series featured running figures against backdrops of the Bund's iconic skyline and magnolia blossoms. The Chengdu iteration playfully integrated pandas and hot pot elements. "People gasped, 'So the cheongsam can look like this!'" Lu Manman recounts. This artistic dialogue injected fresh aesthetic inspiration, opening vast creative avenues for future collections that promise to incorporate coastal themes for Sanya and intricate Zhuang brocade patterns for Guangxi.
Lu Manman champions "Cheongsam Lifestyle" as more than a slogan. Her upcoming "Summer Romance Cheongsam Season" translates this vision into diverse activities: serene reading sessions, energetic bike rides, tea ceremonies, pool parties, pet fashion shows, and camping trips. "I wear cheongsam every single day," Lu declares. "We want every woman to express her unique personality through her own interpretation of the cheongsam." This inclusive spirit captures the essence of Shanghai culture. From its traditional roots to its dynamic sport incarnation, and its expansion from Shanghai across twelve Chinese cities, Lu Manman's vision is clear: "The cheongsam is more than an icon of Eastern femininity; it must evolve and integrate into contemporary life."
