This is the first in a fascinating lecture series about the development of traditional and modern Chinese clothing hosted by Chu Yan, one of China's Top 10 Fashion Designers and associate professor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology.

Chu Yan was designer-in-chief for outfits worn by leaders attending the 2014 APEC Summit, and has made outstanding contributions to the inheritance, preservation and innovation of traditional Chinese costumes. She has also won many awards as the founder of traditional Chinese costume brand "CHUYAN", such as first prize in the "DESIGN 21" International Young Designers Contest organized by UNESCO and the China Design Industry Top Ten Youths.