Chinese People Say "Dior Copied Our Traditional Clothing"... Dior Faces 'Another' Controversy with China

Chinese Netizens Say Dior F/W Collection Resembles Ming and Qing Dynasty Hanfu 'Mamechun'
Dior's Last Year's Ad Sparked Controversy Over Alleged Disrespect to Chinese Women

Traditional Chinese clothing Mamenchun from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Photo by China Baidu, Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] French fashion brand Dior, which was previously embroiled in controversy over an advertisement that disparaged Chinese people, is now facing allegations of imitating traditional Chinese clothing.

On the 16th, on Chinese social networking services (SNS) including Weibo, claims emerged that one of Dior's fall collection pieces this year resembles the Mamenchun (馬面裙), a traditional garment worn by Han women during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China.

Netizens pointed out that the high slits on the front and back of the skirt Dior revealed, along with the pleats on both sides, resemble those of the Mamenchun. They criticized Dior for not disclosing that the design was inspired by traditional Chinese clothing.

Dior described the product as "a mid-length skirt that is a completely new, elegant, and sophisticated item based on Dior's iconic silhouette."

Skirt from Dior's F/W collection, controversial for resembling China's Mamenchuan. Photo by Dior Official Website Capture, Yonhap News Agency

Chinese state media also supported the netizens' claims. On the same day, the Global Times, affiliated with the Communist Party's official newspaper People's Daily, stated, "Some people unfamiliar with Chinese culture may consider the Mamenchun an imitation," adding, "Enthusiasts of traditional Chinese clothing are concerned that, given Dior's influence, global consumers might perceive Dior's design as the original."

The newspaper continued, "Others view this issue not as 'imitation' but as 'cultural exchange,'" explaining, "They argue that this incident should encourage Chinese people to invest more in promoting traditional culture in the future."

Dior has not yet issued a statement regarding this controversy.

Previously, Dior faced backlash for an advertisement at the 'Lady Dior' exhibition held in Shanghai last year, which featured a model with freckles and heavy eye makeup wearing traditional Chinese clothing, sparking accusations of disparaging Chinese people.

The work of photographer Chen Man, which Dior unveiled at an exhibition last year and was criticized as "demeaning to Chinese women." Photo by South China Morning Post, Yonhap News Agency

After the photos were released, Beijing Daily, a Chinese state media outlet, published an article titled "Is this how Dior sees Asian women?" The China Women's News also wrote an article calling the photos "distorting Chinese culture and insulting women."

At that time, Dior apologized, stating, "Our sincerity and commitment to Chinese consumers and society remain unchanged." They also pledged to scrutinize exhibition works more carefully and improve any mistakes.

The controversial photos were taken by renowned Chinese photographer Chen Man. After Chinese netizens criticized the work for "conforming to luxury brands and Western aesthetic tastes," the photographer also posted an apology on Weibo.

Meanwhile, some voices argued that the controversy did not constitute disparagement of Chinese people. They questioned, "Why is this considered disparaging to Chinese people?" and pointed out, "Rather, it was the Chinese who failed to accept diversity of expression."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.