Mrs. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, coined as “Canada’s fashion icon”, visited Hangzhou with her husband and 7-year-old daughter, Ella-Grace, during the G20 Summit 2016. The Canadian first family have visited many places during their tour in China to get known about Chinese traditional culture, while Sophie demonstrated her deep understanding and fondness for fashion. 

In the afternoon of September 3, Sophie and Ella-Grace paid a visit to China National Silk Museum. The museum has just undergone its major renovation and expansion project in the past one year re-opening a new Fashion Gallery and a few more exhibits.


 
Dr, Zhao Feng, the Museum Director, led the tour for Canada’s first lady. When they stopped at the Textile Training Center, Grace was her eyes glued to activities of painting and tie-dyeing made by children from Daguan Primary School. Sophie encouraged her to join the activity group, while she herself went on the visiting of the Fashion Gallery, sometime jokingly known as “the most luxurious dressing room”.

The exhibits showcase items such as Chinese cheongsam, Chanel suits in 1960s, and dresses, gloves, feather caps, etc. for European Ladies from 16th to 19th Century, which all lit up Sophie’s eyes, “I am the right person you should invite to see this gallery…” 

 

“Sophie definitely is a stylish icon. She is so familiar with those designers.’ Said by Director Zhao Feng.

When they returned to the public space, Grace had finished her weaving: a scarf of 30 cm with a loom within half an hour. She wore it in delight.




 
On September 5, Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, invited the wives of state leaders attending the G20 summit to visit the China Academy of Art, and Sophie and Zhao Feng met again when the guests enjoyed “The Past and Present of Chinese Silk” exhibition, display collections from China National Silk Museum. 

Dr. Zhao Feng made a specific guide tour to the first ladies, particular drawn attentions on several pieces of clothes with stories in particular.  For example, a piece of robe with lotus design, unearthed lately from Huangyan, Zhejiang, representing the highest level of silk weaving in the Southern Song Dynasty. It is repaired and conserved by China National Silk Museum, who owns the highest technology of textile conservation in China.