I often look at my mother's old photographs with her dressed in a Cheong Sam and I marvel at the time when the ladies looked so elegant in such beautiful clothing. Cheong Sams originated from Shanghai in the 1920s. Mee Wah, Hong Kong's first Cheong Sam tailor shop opened round about the same time. Mr Kan is the third generation owner and took over the running of the shop when he was a teenager. To this day he still talks about Cheong Sam with such passion. The best time for the business was in the 1950s/60s but business started to decline in the 1980s when European styles took over the market. Mr Kan told me " in the past few years, though, there has been a revival amongst a younger audience, I am so glad to see it. Although we only have two remaining Shanghainese tailors left, they have dedicated their whole life to this shop and work endlessly for us."
