'Cheongsam Queen' earns millions as dressmaker

Fang Yiyi's cheongsam studio. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Fang Yiyi, a postgraduate student from Wuhan Textile University, now makes millions of yuan a year by creating custom cheongsams, Chutian Metropolis Daily reported.

Influenced by her grandmother, who could sew her own cheongsams, Fang dreamed of making clothes when she was a little girl. She even carried a sewing machine to the university.

In 2011, she won the title of "Cheongsam Queen" in a beauty contest and was awarded a car. She sold the car and used the money to open her own studio. After years of operations, she now has a studio and five franchised shops. Her business focuses on making new Chinese-style clothing, which is gaining popularity in China in recent years.

"The craft of making traditional costumes is really beautiful ... I wish all Chinese would wear traditional clothes," said Fang.

Zheng Yumeng contributed to this story.