'(31 Dec 1998) Mandarin/Nat Chinese fashion designer Hu Xiaodan\'s latest collection owes its inspiration to the architecture of China\'s ancient forbidden city. The collection went on display this week at a fashion show in the Chinese capital. Beijing\'s majestic forbidden city has stood at the heart of the ancient city for more than five hundred years. Home to generations of Chinese emperors, its gold tiled roofs and vermilion columns have now become the inspiration for designer Hu Xiaodan\'s latest collection. Even the giant knockers on the great \"gate of supreme harmony\" have been used as inspiration for this bra. And, the golden roofs of the city\'s vast pavilions inspired these gold pleated dresses. The Chinese calligraphy that adorns the beams and columns of the great halls now adorns the bodies of the young models. Far from being uncomfortable the models say the clothes are not only beautiful but very wearable. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) \"His clothing designs naturally show of the beauty of Chinese women to their full, so we don\'t need to make too many movements for the lines of the clothing to be seen. The clothes are therefore very comfortable to wear.\" SUPER CAPTION: Chu Lei, Model In China\'s march towards modernisation its own cultural heritage has often been ignored, in favour of, sometimes slavish, imitation of the west. But more and more young Chinese designers are now turning to China\'s own rich cultural history for their inspiration - a trend which designer Hu Xiaodan says it sure to grow. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) \"The Forbidden City is a great representation of the best of Chinese culture. I think in the future the fashion world will integrate more cultural content in to the design of clothes.\" SUPER CAPTION: Hu Xiaodan, Fashion designer Whether the west will embrace this initiative by the Chinese designer remains to be seen, But in China at least, the Forbidden City and the age-old trees and flowers of the Imperial Garden can be seen in a new light. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1a496f8b65f8b8da7b061272a5ff63de'
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