Beijing Winter Olympics helps sales of designer figure skating costumed that can cost US$2,300
- Chinese theatre costume designer Zhang Yifan pivoted to making outfits for the ice after her younger sister, a competitive figure skater, couldn’t find costumes
- Zhang says the upcoming games have encouraged Chinese to get into winter sports, and business is booming for her handmade designs
China’s upcoming Winter Olympics are adding sparkle to a young costume designer’s growing business, as more Chinese take to the ice and seek tailor-made outfits for figure skating.
Zhang Yifan, a 25-year-old designer based in Beijing, has seen business boom since the city won its bid for the 2022 Olympics and began a campaign to lure 300 million Chinese to embrace snow and ice sports. “The effect is showing up on ice rinks,” said Zhang.
But while fashion on the ice has long been a highlight of Olympic figure skating, there have been few choices for China’s skaters until recently.
Zhang noticed the gap in the market when her teenage sister, Zhang Yixuan, began competing in figure skating but struggled to find outfits that matched her music.
A student of theatre costume design at the time, the older Zhang quickly pivoted to skating costumes, learning by experimenting on her sister.