Studio HHFZ

Studio HHFZ was established in Kallang in July 2018 by designer Hu Ruixian, who set out to modernize the cheongsam (qipao) and make it wearable as everyday clothing rather than an occasion-only garment. The studio makes bespoke pieces to individual order — gowns, modern cheongsams, and bridalwear shaped by Singapore's mixed cultural identity — with construction details like mother-of-pearl buttons and trims in suede or tweed alongside traditional silk, and prints and embroidery, some developed with local Singaporean graphic designers. Lead times run around four months for simpler designs and up to eight months for wedding gowns involving lace or appliqué work, reflecting the studio's fully made-to-order, one-client-at-a-time model rather than a ready-to-wear production line. Hu has been profiled for her approach to preserving qipao construction techniques while updating silhouettes and fabric choices for contemporary wear, positioning the studio within a small field of Singapore ateliers working to keep the cheongsam in everyday rotation rather than treating it purely as heritage costume.