Hong Kong, August 16, 2023 — Birth is not a choice, but you can choose your own party for the Last Day. You carefully select your pajamas, underwear, swimsuit, and wedding dress, so why should others choose your attire for the final party? Your Last Day can also reflect your own style! From September 19th to 22nd, the "Death is fashionable, mourning attire is trending" Mourning Attire. Funeral Garment Carnival" held at Hong Kong Baptist University aims to inspire you on how to prepare for your final party.
Searching for the originator of black mourning attire trend? Can't escape the temptation of black for a hundred years
When it comes to mourning attire, many people think of black. Have you ever wondered why black is synonymous with funeral attire? Is it because of Queen Victoria wearing all black as a widow more than a hundred years ago? Or the elegant and strong image of Jacqueline Kennedy wearing a black veil at her husband's funeral in the 1960s? Or the later influence of Rei Kawakubo and Ann Demeulemeester in the 80s, creating the "black crow" fashion? The true originator can be traced back to the ancient Roman era when people wore black togas as a symbol of mourning.
In the funeral scenes depicted in Korean dramas nowadays, black dominates. Interestingly, before World War II, whether in China, Japan, or Korea, white funerals were the norm. It's not hard to think of Maison Margiela's all-white designs and ninja shoes, which have a close connection to funeral garments and mourning attire!
"A fitting room for funeral garments": A different experience in the memorial hall
In most cases today, funeral garments are only worn after one's passing, but this perception needs to change! The event features a "fitting room for funeral garments" where participants can try on 6-8 sets of traditional Chinese funeral garments and see their "final appearance" in the mirror. They can choose which set they like and take photos as a memento. Everything is a matter of choice!
The curator hopes that through this "Funeral Garment" and "Mourning Attire" Carnival, some established conventions can be broken, allowing everyone to have space for choices and expressing their ideas. It also enables us to seriously contemplate how to put the punctuation mark on our lives...