This talk explores findings from a forthcoming English translation of a pioneering study on clothing in China during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). Challenging the stereotype of uniform “blue boiler suits,” it highlights the dynamic interplay of fashion, politics, and global influences, based on fieldwork conducted in Guangdong. Key themes include the impact of cross-border resources from Hong Kong and Macao, the role of the China Import and Export Fair in shaping local trends, and the connections between Maoist-era clothing and China’s fashion revolution of the late 1970s.

The talk also reveals how individualism and gender identity subtly influenced clothing choices during this tumultuous period, offering new insights into how fashion reflected and shaped cultural representation within China and abroad.