This might be the most frequently worn clothing design in human history.
The side-buttoning style is the archetypal form for most Chinese jackets, only falling out of favor in the early 20th century, when the center-buttoning style became more popular. I find this more appealing for its asymmetry. You can still see this style occasionally in Japanese workmen's jackets, but it is now uncommon in China.
It's also difficult to find old examples. Millions (billions?) were made, but they wore out and few people bothered to keep them. This example comes from Guizhou province in SW China, and I think it probably dates to the 1920s. The cloth is dyed with natural indigo.
Time for a revival?
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