Qipao, a traditional Chinese dress made by Hangzhou Limin Chinese-style Garment Factory [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

From a small garment factory to one of the largest exporters of Chinese-style clothes, Hangzhou Limin Chinese-style Garment Factory has undergone great changes in its quest to develop while also preserving traditional culture.

As a time-honored Chinese-style clothing brand with 122 years of history, the factory gives top priority to quality and has designed clothing for national leaders at international, including the APEC meeting, Boao Forum and G20 Summit Hangzhou 2016.

With the passing down of traditional garment making techniques such as inlaying, embedding, rolling, setting, nailing, knitting, embroidering and cherish mining, "Zhen Xing Xiang Chinese garments craft" was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

"2015 was a turning point for the factory when we relocated and shifted our focus to the qipao, a traditional Chinese dress," said Bao Wenqi, the sixth director of the factory, adding that most qipao are traditionally hand-embroidered and range from 3,980 yuan ($574.71) to 13,800 yuan in price.

"It would cost nearly 18,000 yuan for a tailor-made dress," said Bao, as there is nothing in the world that brings out one's figure like a qipao.

In addition to the qipao, the factory also produces Tang-style suits and causal outfits for people on special occasions such as wedding ceremonies during Spring Festival.