Chinese designers are setting themselves apart from the global competition today by turning to China's rich history for inspiration to create their contemporary apparel

Long before the invention of the qipao, or the cheongsam, there was a similar-looking type of clothing that most Chinese wore starting from as early as the 26th century BC.

Known as hanfu, or Han clothing, this traditional robe-like attire featured loose lapels and long flowing sleeves and was often adorned in vibrant colors. While the details found on the clothing changed through the centuries, the style of the hanfu has endured even till today, with a growing number of Chinese designers turning to it for inspiration and infusing elements of it into their contemporary designs.