Evolution of Hong Kong School Uniform Styles from Qipao to Sailor Collars
According to the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong school uniforms have evolved significantly, starting with mandatory dress codes like qipao tops and progressing to styles influenced by global fashion trends and changing campus rules.
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The South China Morning Post reports that school uniforms have become a noticeable part of Hong Kong's cultural identity, tracing their evolution from traditional qipao designs to navy-inspired sailor collars, influenced by shifting global fashion trends, campus regulations, and cultural changes.
St Paul’s Girls’ College, which is now St Paul’s Co-educational College, initiated the mandatory dress code in 1918 by requiring a qipao top paired with either trousers or a skirt, with the goal of fostering a unified identity.
Following the second world war, when a large influx of migrants from mainland China led to a significant increase in student enrollment, uniforms were made compulsory in nearly all primary and secondary schools. These attire were meant to promote equality, eliminate markers of social class, and distinguish large groups of students.
While boys generally wore formal, suit-like ensembles and girls wore distinctive qipaos, New Method College introduced Japanese sailor-inspired uniforms during the 1970s. Concurrently, international schools began adopting more relaxed and casual dress codes.
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